In mature seeds of Salix nigra Marsh, and Populus nigra L, chloroplasts are present in cells of most embryo tissues. In cells of the ground meristem, mesophyll and root cap, chloroplasts are well defined with typical structure and, occasionally, starch in the stroma. Chloroplasts are scarce in the protoderm and procambium. . Plastids of the apical meristems are not developed in chloroplasts. In both species, they contain endomembranes tightly packed in stacks and phytoferritin deposits in a crystalline arrangement. Chlorophyll analysis revealed the presence of Chl a and b in the embryos of both species: Salix nigra showed a Chl a/b ratio of 1.48 and Populus  nigra of 2.62. The present study was made in an attempt to advance in the characterisation of Salicaceae seeds and forms part of a comprehensive study of the seed viability in species of this family.