Phenology of Bactris gasipaes Kunth, Euterpe edulis Mart. e Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman in the Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo State, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Aiming at understanding the biology, life cycle and temporal occurrence of the vegetative and reproductive phases of three palm trees, Bactris gasipaes, Euterpe edulis and Syagrus romanzoffiana, in the Ribeira Valley, São Paulo, we recorded the occurence of their flowering, fruiting, leaf fall and leaf flushing. In our 2-year study we observed 15 individuals of each species and vegetative and reproductive events were registered fortnightly. Two reproductive events were observed and they occurred once a year, however differing in reproductive intensity among species and, in the same species, from one year to another. Ripe fruits were observed for a long period (seven consecutive months) even when both precipitation and temperature were low. Bactris gasipaes showed an average of 147 days from the floral spathe opening to the development of ripe fruit, while for Euterpe edulis this process took 280 days, and 174 days for Syagrus romanzoffiana

Keywords:
Arecaceae; queen-palm; juçara-palm; peach-palm