Acacia polyphylla DC. is a typical tree species of the initial stage of the secondary succession, recommended for restoring degraded areas. However, it was not found any reference that mentioned the chemical components, morphological aspects, as well as the aspects of the post-seminal development of this species. The objective of the present work was to characterize and to illustrate fruits and seeds and to quantify some present chemical components in the seeds and accompanying the different stages of the seedling development. The morphological descriptions of the fruits and seeds were done in relation to the form, size, surface, micropile and shape and position of the embryo. For the morphological description of the seedlings, the seeds were placed to germinate in Murashige & Skoog and incubated at 25ºC. All germination stages were observed and both normal and abnormal seedlings were described and illustrated. The fruit is a dehiscente legume and contains from eight to 16 flat seeds, with testal coat: embryo axial and invaginated. The germination of seeds is epigeal and the seedlings are phanerocotyledonarious.
morphology; seedling; forest seed
