Relevância sistemática da morfologia de frutos dos gêneros americanos da tribo Hippomaneae A. Juss. ex Bartl. (Euphorbiaceae A. Juss.)

Abstract

A morphology study of fruit and seed of 12 American genera in the tribe Hippomaneae is presented, aiming to evaluate the taxonomy value of these characters. Some characters are consistent (e.g., fruit dehiscence, style length, shape of the mericarp internal septum, occurrence mericarp with separate basal triangle, wings and columella apex shapes, presence or absence of carpidiophore, the presence of aril, presence and shape of the caruncle and surface ornamentation), and characterize genera. The results confirm the taxonomic importance this structures for American genus Hippomaneae. In addition fruits and seeds descriptions of each genus and illustrations were given.