Morphological aspects of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek

Abstract

Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek is a species found in forests, especially in riparian forests. This medicinal species is commonly used to reduce itching of the gums in children at the onset of teething and contains several substances responsible for antiulcer activity. The aim of the present study was to describe the external and anatomical features of the seeds, fruits, and developmental stages of seedlings of R. elaeocarpum Reissek. The processing consisted of maceration in sieves to separate the seeds from the waste. To describe the fruit, external details of the pericarp were observed and for the seeds, the external structures of the integument and internal structures of the endosperm and embryonic axis were analyzed. The morphological aspects of the seeds, germination, and seedlings of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek are homogenous in all phases. The fruit is simple, fleshy, indehiscent, and berry monospermic. The seed is exalbuminous and cream colored, with a thin and rough integument, the presence of tannin content, and an endosperm rich in starch, calcium oxalate crystals, and lipid content. Germination is hypogeal, and the seedling is cryptocotyledonary