Studies aiming at providing information on the morphology of seeds and young seedlings are very useful in the identification of the species, facilitating the recognition at the initial stages of their development. Therefore, the objective of this work was to characterize morphologically internal and external structures of fruits and seeds of Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. e Schult.) Penn. and to describe and illustrate the external morphology of Sideroxylon obtusifolium Penn. seedling from seed germination as well. Internal and external details related to texture, consistency, color, pilosity, brightness, shape, number of seeds per fruit and shedding were observed in order to describe fruits,. Some external aspects of seeds were analyzed, including size, color, texture, consistency, shape, hilum and micropyle position. Regarding the internal characteristics, it was observed the endosperm presence or absence and cotyledon, embryo axes and plumule type, shape and color. Germination was considered from radicle protrusion to the protophilus emission and seedlings were considered stable when all the protophilus were completely expanded. Fruits of S. obtusifolium are bacóide, globose, indehiscent and monospermic types. The seeds range from globose to elipsoide, and they have fanerocotiledonar type embryo and occupies a basal position in the seed. Germination of seeds starts on day 12 and can be contained on day 21 after sowing.
Forest species; Morphology; Seedling and Seed analysis
