The suspensor is a terminal embryonic structure that provides nutrients and growth regulators to the embryo proper during embryo development. In contrast to the embryo proper, the suspensor has a simple structure and a one-cell type that has a unique advantage in studies of gene regulation and cell fate determination. This paper presents advances in studies of suspensor formation, characteristics of the suspensor cell, genes that may be involved in suspensor development, and possible roles that suspensors play during embryogenesis.