Somatic embryogenesis from in vitro anther culture of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg) was analysed by using light microscopy. Two pathways of somatic embryogenesis were observed: internal origin, the embryogenesis initiated from internal embryogenic cell of callus mass, and surface origin from surface embryogenic cells. The somatic embryos with internal origin developed very similarly to the pattern formation of zygotic counterparts. They usually originated from single embryogenic cell and had a suspensor and seemed to be more competent for conversion into plantlets. The somatic embryos with surface origin usually initiated from a group of embryogenic cell. Their development had departed far from that of the zygotic embryos and rarely gave rise to plantlets. A high frequency of abnormal somatic embryogenesis occurred and this might account for the very low production of plantlets. An overwhelming majority of globular embryos failed to develop into torpedo and cotyledon embryos. The abnormalities in shoot apical meristem might be the main cause for the low conversion rate of the torpedo and cotyledon embryos into plantlets.