Summary
This paper presents phenological observations of 27 tree species in a humid tropical forest of the Amazonian terra firme, located in the Ducke Reserve, near Manaus, Brazil, during the period from 1965 to 1976. Trees were selected for observation on the basis of superior phenotypic characteristics; species were selected on the basis of their economic value in local, national and international markets as sources of timber, essential oils, resins, gums, latex and fruits. The followinb phenological phenomena are analyzed: flowering, fruiting, and production of new leaves. Phenological observations were made in separate trees occupying different strata of the forest. Over the 12 years of observations, the periodicity of initiation of flowering and fruiting is shown for each species and for all species. In addition, the most probable periods and durations of flowering and fruiting are shown for each species, as well as dendrological and botanical characteristics. After lumping data on the initiation of flowering and fruiting for all species, the two samples (trees occupying canopy and trees occupying lower canopy) were compared by use of the non-parametric H test of Kruskal Wallis. The samples were shown to be significantly different, indicating that the crown position is an important factor of phenological hehavior. A simple regression analysis correlates phenological data (initiation of flowering and fruiting) with climatic factors (precipitation, relative humidity and maximum absolute temperature). When there are small values of precipitation and relative humidity the results tend to show a greater number of trees initiating flowering and fruiting. Maximum absolute temperature was not significant to flowering yet was significant (0,1%) to fruiting and having a positive correlation (to greater values of this temperature a larger number of trees will be found initiating fruiting).