Tabebuia aurea is found in areas of Cerrado, Caatinga, Amazon Forest and Pantanal., It is used medicinally, for landscaping, and as timber for construction. For presenting wide use and distribution, the objective of this study was to characterize morfologically and analyze the viability and vigor of the harvested seeds of this species originated from the Cerrado. The seeds were germinated immediately after harvest and at 30, 60 and 90 days after the storage in laboratory and field, being also tested with tetrazolium. Seeds measured, in average, 57.8 x 20.6 x 3.1 mm (with wings) and 17.3 x 13.3 x 1.7 mm (without wings), which were antisymmetrical . The average seed weight was 13.18 g (with wings) and 11.55 g (without wings). T. Aurea presented greater viability immediately after harvest, greater percentage of germination in laboratory 30 days after storage, and greater percentage of accumulated germination on field surface. Seed viability, checked by the tetrazolium test, gave results similar to the ones obtained from the germination test in laboratory, indicating that it is satisfactory to test the viability of this species.
Forest seeds; seedling production; seed bank; germination; Tabebuia aurea
