ABSTRACT
The morphology of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Canavalia rosea, Ormosia arborea, Pithecellobium tortum and Swartzia apetala var. apetala in the "restinga" of Maricá, state of Rio de Janeiro was studied between January 2004 and October 2006. All species present dehiscent fruits and autochorous dispersial, but the seeds of S. apetala var. apetala also suggest zoochorous dispersial by the presence of an aril. Newly collected seeds show high germination success: C. rosea (99%), O. arborea (100%), P. tortum (93%) and S. apetala var. apetala (75%), however, the only seedlings found in the natural habitat were of C. rosea. Cryptocotylar seedling was recorded for O. arborea and S. apetala var. apetala. while phanerocotylar seedling was observed in C. rosea and P. tortum.
Key words:
Leguminosae; Fabaceae; morphology; seed physiology; seed dispersal; Canavalia; Ormosia; Pithecellobium; Swartzia