Potencial paisagístico-ornamental e fenologia de Palicourea rigida Kunth (Rubiaceae)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate growth variables and the phenological development of Palicourea rigidaKunth plants in a natural population, and to determine their ornamental potential. Ten plants were studied, and their locations were recorded using GPSand evaluated on a monthly basis (December 2013 to December 2014). Plant growth was assessed using characteristics such as: plant height; height of the first fork; number of branches at the first fork; stem diameter at 20 cm from the ground and crown diameters in the north-south and east-west directions. Phenological monitoring was carried out qualitatively(monthly observations of the presence and absence of the foliage, flowering and fruiting phenophases) and quantitatively (using a scale of scores from one to ten). Each month, the part of the plant with the greatest ornamental value at the time of evaluation was also determined, considering the stem, foliage, flowers or fruit. Palicourea rigida is a slow-growing, small plant with a low, rounded crown, little branching, evergreen foliage and inflorescences with warm, yellow-orange flowers. The species blooms for nine months and bears fruit for eight months. P. rigida has characteristics that indicate high ornamental potential for use even in landscaping projects.