FRUIT AND SEED MORPHOLOGY, AND GERMINATION OF Quesnelia quesneliana (BRONGNIART) L.B. SMITH

Abstract

Bromeliad Quesnelia quesneliana (Brongniart) L.B. Smith has been reported in the Atlantic Forest, Rainforest, Mesophilic Semideciduous Seasonal Forest, Mangroves and Restingas in the Brazilian southeastern states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, but information about their fruit and seed morphology, and germination is limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the external morphology of fruit and seeds, germination rate and post-seminal stages of Q. quesneliana. Fruits were collected from Restinga area in the Armação dos Búzios city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The width and length of fruit and seeds (external morphology) were measured, the post-seminal development of the seeds was analyzed and botanical illustrations were made. The indexes t50, uniformity of germination, mean germination time and germination speed coefficient were also calculated. Germination was assessed for 20 days by counting individuals to obtain the post-seminal stages. Ripe Q. quesneliana fruits are pyriform, reddish-brown in color, with light spots, 26 mm long and 10 mm wide, with an average of 148 seeds per fruit and wrapped in a transparent mucilage. The seeds are 2 mm long and 1 mm wide, with epigeal germination, and its seedlings are cryptocotyledonary. The seeds of this species germinate quickly and have no dormancy.