Abstract: The structure of coleoptile cells of soaked seeds in Coix lacryma -jobi was examined. The coleoptile consists of outer and inner epidermis, parenchyma and two peripherally located vascular bundles. In two places of the outer epidermis, some cells have discontinuous radial walls forming a syncytium. The ribosomes, mito-chondria and endoplasmic reticulum vesicles are abundant in parenchyma cells. The results suggest that the metabolism in the cells has become active. The plasmodesmata in the primary pit fields indicate that a synplastic pathway is present between parenchyma cells. There are many vesicles originated from endoplasmic reticulum on the primary walls. These vesicles may be involved in the enlargement of the plasma membrane to adapt cell growth during the coleoptile growing. The nuclear membrane is discontinuous. This may facilitate the substances exchange between nucleus and cytoplasm. The nucleolus is located near to nuclear membrane and the nucleolus with nucleoius organizer is connected with the nuclear membrane close to the region lack of membrane. Coleop-tile cells are rich in protein bodies and lipid bodies, besides, the parenchyma cells contain starch grains. Two types of protein bodies are present in the parenchyma cells.

Key words: Coix lacryma- jobi