Protoplasts prepared from an embryogenic cell suspension culture of fennel gave rise to somatic embryoids directly through unequal cell divisions of enlarged, ellipsoidal cells, when embedded in hormone-free LS agarose medium. On the other hand, protoplasts embedded in LS agarose medium containing 2,4-D and kinetin proliferated through unpolarized cell divisions to form calli, which gave somatic embryoids on the surface upon transfer onto the same medium. In either case, somatic embryoids germinated to develop into normal plantlets when cultured on hormone-free LS agar medium under illumination.