Abstract: The seeds of Coptis chinensis Franeh took 9–10 months to germinate after they were collected and buried under ground.. This is due to the fact that the embryo of Coptis chinensis was not fully developed after shedding but remained in the stage of globular or early heart-shaped embryo, and the latter of which has to pass through a rather long period before it developed into torpedo-embryo stage. Embryo completed its growth about January of the following year. The delay in seed germination is because of the embryo not being fully developed after shedding. However, the primordium of the first foliage leaf initiated early in the apical meristem of the young embryo. Perceiving the whole process of the young embryo growth, it seems possible that, if a suitable condition is envisaged to shorten the heart-shaped embryo stage, the whole germinating process of seed might be somewhat curtailed.

Key words: Coptis chinensis, Seed, After-ripening