The microstructural evolution of a 18R single phase （S 18） alloy during annealing at 773 K for 100 h was investigated in order to reveal the formation mechanism of 14H phase. The results showed that the as-cast S 18 alloy was composed of 18R phase （its volume fraction exceeds 93%）, W particles and α-Mg phase. The 18R phase in S18 alloy was thermally stable and was not transformed into 14H long period stacking ordered （LPSO） phase during annealing. However, 14H lamellas formed within tiny α-Mg slices, and their average size and volume fraction increased with prolonging annealing time. Moreover, the 14H phase is nucleated within α-Mg independently on the basis of basal stacking faults （SFs）. The broadening growth of 14H lamellas is an interface-controlled process which involves ledges on basal planes, while the lengthening growth is a diffusion-controlled process and is associated with diffusion of solute atoms. The formation mechanism of 14H phase in this alloy could be explained as α-Mg＇→α-Mg＋14H.
