Abstract: To better understand the seed germination characteristics and the method of breaking-dormancy and provide some basic information for cultivation, germination characteristics of Scoparia dulcis, Plantago asiatica, Talinum paniculatum and Eclipta prostrata from eastern Guangdong were examined after being dry stored at room temperature, wet stored at 15℃, 4℃ and 0℃ for 30 d. The results showed that the viable ability of fresh seeds of the four species were more than 96%, the germination rate of T. paniculatum and E. prostrata seeds was 94% and 98%, respectively, whereas that of S. dulcis and P. asiatica was less than 30%. Seeds of S. dulcis after being dry stored at room temperature (25℃, 70.67%; 25/15℃, 26%) and wet stored at 15℃ (25℃, 82%; 25℃/15℃, 31.33%) had a higher germination rate than fresh seeds (24%-26%), wet stored at 4℃ (0.67%- 12% ) and 0℃ (0%- 8% ). Seeds of P. asiatica after being wet stored at 4℃ (34% ) had a higher germination rate than fresh seeds (29%), dry stored at room temperature(16.7%-18.7%), wet stored at 15℃ (11.3%- 13.3% ) and frozen 0℃ (0%- 0.6% ). Seeds of S. dulcis and P. asiatica with a certain degree of dormancy have low germination rate, whereas seeds of T. paniculatum and E.prostrata are non-dormant. Dry storage at room temperature and warm stratification at 15℃ for S. dulcis, and cold stratification (4℃) for P. asiatica can be an efficient method to break dormancy and promote germination.