Abstract: High frequency somatic embryogenesis was obtained from embryonic leaflets of peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L. ) which were induced on MS medium containing 20 mg/L 2,4-D for 20 d and later subcultured on MS medium without phytohormones. Histological observations reavealed that somatic embryos originated from the cells of epidermis and several layers of subepideirois which underwent dediffemntiation and developed into embryonic cell mass with dense cytoplasm and large nudens. The embryonic cell mass continued to devide and developed further into embryos through globular, heart-shaped, torpedo-shaped and cotyledon stages.