Gustavia augusta L., popularly known as "jeniparana", is an arboreal Neotropical species, occurring in the Atlantic and Amazonian forests. Considering the abundance of this species in the Atlantic forest and the weakness and fragmentation of the ecosystem, it was the objective of this work to characterize morphologically its seeds, fruits, germination and seedlings, adding data to support studies about its utilization and conservation. Ripe fruits were collected from the stretch of Atlantic forest located in the area of Paulista,Pernambuco State. After that, morphological analysis of fruits, seeds and seedlings was carried out. Fruit of G. augusta is globous, anfisarcidfive loculs, indehiscentpixid. The seed is exalbuminous, estenospermic, triserials, bitegumented and 100-seeds weight of this lot was 47.95g. Germination is hypogeous, with the tegument adhering to the cotyledons in the initial seedling growth phase, which starsts on the fifth day after sowing in laboratory conditions. The average time and speed of germination index (GSI) were 14 days and 0.87, respectively. The 40-day old seedling presentsall structures, being classified as morpho-functional fanerohipogeous-storedtype (PHR).
biometrics; early growth; Gustavia augusta L.; jeniparana; Lecythidaceae; native species
