Abstract: In order to reveal the dormancy mechanism and germination process and solve the problems of sexual production of Kobresia robusta(Cyperaceae) seeds, the authors observed the seed morphology, anatomy and seed viability, and then carried out the germination test through physical (soaking in hot water, mechanical process, laminated pregermination and temperature) and chemical (soaking in concentrated sulfuric acid, GA₃) methods. The results showed that the seed viability of Kobresia robusta was low (64%), the seed size was small (weight of one thousand seeds was 4.63 g) and the seeds were wrapped by hard seed coat, thus inhibited the seed germination and resulted in lower seed germination rate. The seeds of Kobresia robusta did not germinate when seeds treated with hot water, mechanical process and laminated pregermination at 20-25℃ temperature. However, after cutting the seed coat, the germination rate reached the maximum of 64% at the varying temperature of 25/5℃ (12/12h) for 14 d when seeds were treated with 98% H₂SO₄ (6 min) and then soaked in 300 mg/L GA₃ (2 d), while the other 36% of seeds still did not germinate. The results indicated that Kobresia robusta seeds had multiple dormancy mechanisms, and the mechanical limitation of seed coat might be the major reason of seed dormancy of Kobresia robusta.