This study describes for the first time the development of mature somatic embryos of Pinus strobus L. and Pinus banksiana Lamb. from nodules. In the case of P. strobus, mature embryos derived from nodules were similar in morphology to mature zygotic embryos of the same species with the exception that root caps in the somatic embryos were reduced. In addition, somatic embryos of P. strobus from nodules were capable of germination. For P. banksiana, mature embryos from nodules often showed abnormalities including the usual absence of secretory cells, root meristems and root caps as well as the presence of tracheids, elongated cells and abundant intracellular spaces in the hypocotyls. Mature somatic embryos of P. banksiana from nodules initially formed during maturation were not capable of germination. Transferring cultures of both species from maturation medium back to proliferation medium induced reinitiation of embryogenesis. In the case of P. banksiana, placing mature embryos not capable of germination onto initiation medium resulted in the formation of secondary somatic embryos that developed normally and were capable of germination.