(Flowering and seed rain in a secondary forest in São Paulo, southeastern Brazil). Flowering and seed rain in a secondary forest in São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, were studied through the collection of reproductive material obtained from seed traps of 0.5 x 0.5 m. Collections were made on a monthly basis between January and December, 1993. Ninety species belonging to 37 families were identified in the collected reproductive material. Seasonal flowering and fruiting patterns were observed in the forest. The majority of the species flowered from September; peaks in the flower and fruit abundance were observed in November. The flowering pattern was the same observed in other forests of the region, but the fruiting pattern was more seasonal. From the seed rain, it could be deduced that the anemochorous species dispersed their seeds mainly in November, at the onset of the rainy season and not in the dry season as was expected. The majority of zoochorous species dispersed their seeds during the middle of the rainy season, with a peak in January, when the conditions for fruit ripening, seed dispersal and seedling establishment were optimal. The largest quantity of seeds was produced by the lianas while the group of trees was the richnest in species.
Flowering; seed rain; secondary forest; São Paulo; Brazil
