ABSTRACT
Dalbergieae is considered a basal tribe of Papilionoideae (Leguminosae) and presents different types of fruits. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology, anatomy and ontogeny of the samaroid fruit of Centrolobium tomentosum, verifying the origin of the wing and external spines covering the seminal chamber. The pericarp and seed develop in parallel and the process was divided into four stages. The seed has typical Papilionoideae characters; the wing of the pericarp originates from the lateral portion of the style and the spines are produced by outer emergences of the ovary with dermal and mesophyll origin, and becoming vascularized late. The double layer of sclerenchyma (on the mesocarp and endocarp) present in the mature pericarp of the samaroid fruit of C. tomentosum can be considered a plesiomorphic state of character, when compared with other Dalbergieae species described in the literature. Our data show the presence of colleters, considered as a sinapomorphy for dalbergioid legumes (Papilionoideae pantropical clade).
Key words:
Anatomy; Dalbergieae; ontogeny; pericarp; samara; seed