To explore the difference between waxy and nonwaxy barley, we used two waxy barley and two nonwaxy barley cultivars as materials in this paper. The development of caryopsis in waxy and nonwaxy barley were investigated by stereomicroscopy observation, histochemical staining, resin semithin slicing and optical microscope observation. The results showed that：（1）the changes of fresh weight, dry weight and moisture content of waxy and nonwaxy barley were basically consistent, and the growth curve was as ‘S’.（2）The results of I₂/KI staining for the endosperm and pericarp of two kinds of barley were different. The endosperm of waxy barley was stained redbrown by I₂/KI and its pericarp was stained blueblack, but the endosperm and pericarp of waxy barley were both stained blueblack by I₂/KI, and both waxy and nonwaxy barley have high amylose content in the pericarp. （3） The occurrence of waxy barley endosperm amyloplast was earlier than that of nonwaxy barley, and the proportion of small amyloplast was higher than that of nonwaxy barley. Also, the endosperm starch filling degree of waxy barley was better than that of nonwaxy barley.（4） Compared with nonwaxy barley, waxy barley showed lower apparent amylase and total starch content but higher soluble sugar content. The results show that the caryopsis growth law of waxy barley is similar to that of nonwaxy barley, but the accumulation law of the starch is different.