Morphological characterization of fruits, seeds and phases of germination Pachira aquatica Aubl. (Bombacaceae)

Abstract

The mongubeira (Pachira aquatica Aubl) is a fruit used in urban forestry in many cities within the country and infrequent in their natural habitat in the forests periodically flooded the coast of Pará and Maranhão. This study aimed to describe and illustrate the external and internal morphological characteristics of fruits and seeds, as well as the stages of germination of P. aquatica. For a description of the fruits were observed internal and external details of the pericarp, related to texture, texture, hairiness, brightness, shape, number of seeds per fruit and dehiscence. For seed morphology were observed following external dimensions, color, texture, consistency, shape, position of hilum and micropyle. For the internal characteristics, there was the presence or absence of endosperm and embryo type. The fruits of P. aquatica capsules are semi-woody, dehiscent, generally oval shape, some are curved and longitudinal cracks in the pericarp, is made up of five septa, polispermic and stained dark brown. The seeds vary from angular to reniform, have a large amount of endosperm and are inserted into the central axis of the fruit. Germination is epigeal type phanerocotylar, starting on the eighth day and can be terminated on the 15th day after sowing.