ABSTRACT Biosynthesized from very long-chain fatty acid wax precursors, n-alkanes make a valuable contribution to the taxonomy of plants. The alkane components of foliar epicuticles of seven Neotropical species of Lecythidaceae were investigated: Bertholletia excelsa, Cariniana legalis, Couroupita guianensis, Eschweilera alvimii, Eschweilera ovata, Gustavia augusta and Lecythis pisonis. Specimens were collected in the metropolitan area of Recife, Pernambuco, and their n-alkane fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography. The chemical relationships among the species were then evaluated using cophenetic correlation and UPGMA. Among the seven species, a total of 15 n-alkanes, with 21-35 carbon atoms, were identified and formed a consistent group of B. excelsa, C. guianensis, E. ovata, G. augusta, and L. pisonis with n-C31. The greatest similarities were found between B. excelsa and L. pisonis, and between C. guianensis and G. augusta. Nevertheless, a phenetic analysis based on a larger number of species is needed to better understand the chemotaxonomic value of epicuticular n-alkanes within the Lecythidaceae.

Gustavia augusta L., conhecida popularmente como jeniparana, é uma espécie arbórea neotropical, que ocorre nas florestas Atlântica e Amazônica. Considerando-se a abundância dessa espécie na floresta Atlântica e a fragilidade e fragmentação desse ecossistema, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, caracterizar seus frutos, sementes, germinação e plântulas, acrescentando informações para subsidiar estudos sobre sua conservação e utilização. Os frutos maduros foram coletados em fragmentos de floresta Atlântica, no município de Paulista, PE. Em seguida, foram realizadas análises morfológicas e biométricas dos frutos, sementes e plântulas da espécie. O fruto de G. augusta é um pixídio globoso, anfissarcídio, pentalocular, indeiscente. A semente é exalbuminosa, estenospérmica, trisseriada, bitegumentada e a massa de cem sementes desse lote foi de 47,95 g. A germinação da espécie é do tipo hipógea, com o tegumento aderido aos cotilédones na fase inicial do crescimento da plântula, que tem início a partir do quinto dia após a semeadura, em condições de laboratório. O tempo médio e o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) foram de 14 dias e 0,87, respectivamente. A plântula com 40 dias apresenta todas as estruturas, sendo classificada no tipo morfofuncional fanerohipógeo-armazenador (PHR).

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).