This paper reports characteristics of seeds and seedlings of saboarana (Swartzia laevicarpa Amshoff), a nitrogen fixing tree species native to Amazonian forests in the black-water floodplains that produces good quality commercial timber and abundant seeds. The seeds present polimorphism, polyembryony and hypogeal germination. Seeds planted eight days after harvesting takes 18 to 43 days to germinate. The average germination percentage was 94%. Seedling growth, measured as height, diameter, fresh and dry weights, was observed under nursery conditions using five different substrates. Seedling growth was better in the substrates composed of fertilized inoculated sand, a 3:2 claysand mix and in the litter layer of forest soil than in the other substrates tested. Nodulation was better in the clay-sand mix. In the other (high fertility) substrates, poor nodulation and seedling growth was verified. Thus, these results indicate that saboarana is a species adapted to low-fertility conditions.
seeds; Leguminosae; seedlings; rhizobia