Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex Correa is a tree species of the Malvaceae family typical of the initial period of plant succession, with high potential for reforestation and recovery of degraded areas, particularly in coastal regions. This work evaluated the biometry and morphology of fruits and seeds of this species, as well as treatments to speed up and/or to synchronize seed germination at temperatures of 25 and 30 ºC. The results showed that the fruit is schizocarpic with eight angular seeds with 6,3 mm length and 4,3 mm width. The embryo is axial folded, with a cylindrical hypocotyl-radicle axis. The immersion of seeds in a concentrated solution of sulfuric acid for 30 minutes was efficient to overcome the dormancy of this species as well as to improve and to speed up the germination percentage. The temperature of 30 ºC conferred maximum germination.
germination; morphology; dormancy; seeds
