Abstrakt: |
Dalbergia miscolobium(Papilionaceae) is a tree of the Brazilian cerrado that produces ovaries with two ovules. Only one ovule usually matures, but when two mature, they are smaller than seeds of single‐seeded pods. Germination percentage was lower in small seeds than in medium or large seeds. In general, small seeds gave rise to smaller seedlings (dry mass) than did medium and large seeds. The root/shoot ratio, however, was very similar for the first six months, indicating that this ratio is consistent across seedling sizes. There was no correlation between seed size and relative growth rate. Single‐seeded fruit production in D. miscolobiumresulted in greater seed reserves and increased fruit dispersal distance; single‐seeded fruits were lighter than double‐seeded ones. Together, these two features should increase the probability of successful seedling establishment of seeds from single‐seeded versus double‐seeded fruits. |