Copaíba trees belong to the genus Copaifera (Caesalpiniaceae) and are well-known in the Amazon region for the medical use of its resin-oil and bark. This study reports the phenologic events observed between January 1996 and January 1998 on 60 Copaifera officinalis trees localized in a gallery forest along the Branco River near Boa Vista. The local climatic data for this region indicate a strong seasonality. Dry season occurs between September/October to March/April and rainy season occurs mainly between the months of May and August. The principal phenologic events of the C. officinalis trees occurred between September and March. Flowers first appeared at the beginning of dry season (September). Fruits were observed between November and March and seed fall showed a peak of seed-shedding in the second half of February and beginning of March. The phenologic events of C. officinalis trees are discussed and compared with information on other species of the same genus (C. multijuga, C. langsdorfn e C. pubiflora) occurring in other regions of South America.
phenology; flowering; fruiting; seed dispersal; deciduous