Morphology and germination of Aegiphila brachiata Vell.: potential species for ecological restoration in atlantic forest

Aegiphila brachiata is a forest native Brazilian species, known as peloteiro, with high capacity for biomass production and resistance to disturbances, having potential use in degraded ecosystems. Seeing the scarcity of studies on we aimed determine morphobiometric characteristics fruits, seeds seedlings; evaluate its germination potential. We determined physical fruits seeds, morphological description stages seedling development. Germination was completely randomized design (factorial scheme), three temperatures (20, 25, 30°C) two methods overcoming dormancy (partial total endocarp removal). Fruits are indehiscent, fleshy, persistent calyx. The pyrene constituted by seeds. hypogeal, cryptocotyledonary. Results show that removing unprecedented methodology used suitable method overcome mechanical (with 25 30°C), showing applicability several species.