Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) is a tree species widely distributed throughout Brazilian vegetation and it is used for medicinal purposes by the human population who exploit natural environment. The purpose of the present study was to provide information about the reproductive phenofases, the morphology and germination of C.sylvestris seeds, and verify the existence of variability in the germination behavior according the source of the seed sample. Seeds from two different sources, Itirapina-SP and Ibiporã-PR, with 14,5% and 22,86% water content, respectively, were germinated in the absence of light at constant temperatures of 27º, 30º and 33 ºC and a 12h photoperiod in alternating temperatures from 20-30 ºC, in BOD chambers. The effect of growth regulators was verified by solutions of gibberellin (GA3)(10 or 20 mgL-1) or kinetin (5 or 10 mgL-¹) or water, under 27 ºC temperature. The tetrazolium test demonstrated that 32% of the seeds from the SP sample and 66% of the PR sample were viable. The lots from both sources presented standard three-phase water imbibition, but differed in the emission time of the primary root. The optimal temperature for germination was between 27º and 30 ºC for both lots. The use of growth regulators was not effective in improving the seed performance. The seedlings from the SP source were more vigorous (larger mass), but they were smaller in relation to the set from the PR source. After storage, the sample from the SP source presented a decrease in their viability and vigor and the ones from the PR source presented decrease only in vigor.
flowering; fructification; seed storage
