ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3479
Session = 15.8.1


SEASONAL VARIATION OF FRUIT MORPHOLOGY IN CAATINGA ECOSYSTEM, NE BRAZIL.


L. Griz* and E. Sampaio # (*Biology Dept., University of Missouri-St. Louis MO USA and # Dept. Energia Nuclear, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco PE Brazil).


We compile all information available on fruit types, dispersal syndromes and fruiting period for angiosperms from caatinga dry forest. We present data on 68 species (48 genera and 22 families). The most representative families are Leguminosae and Euphorbiaceae. The most common fruit is legume. The number of species producing dry fruits was much larger during the dry and the rainy season when compared to fleshy-fruited species. Nevertheless, the number of fleshy-fruited species producing fruits is much greater during the rainy season. We observe four dispersal syndromes (ballistic, zoochory, anemochory, and barochory). Zoochorous species are fruiting predominantly during the rainy season, while during the dry season anemochory is the most frequent dispersal syndrome.


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