Jacare seeds (Piptadenia comrnunis) were submitted to accelerated ageing at thE temperature of 40°C for zero, 16, 20, 24 and 48 hours. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replications and 25 seeds per repilcation. The following were evaluated: germination percentage and speed, level of total soluble sugars, protein, lipids, fatty acids and exsudated conductivity. After each period of aging the seeds were placed to germinate under temperature of 25°C, under continuous light, for five days. The germinated seeds were counted daily. The germination speed for the seeds submitted to 16 and 20 hours of ageing was greater than the control which, in turn, was greater than those values for the 24 and 48 hours of aging. The final germination percentage was greater for the control followed by 16, 20, 24 and 48 hours of ageing. The treatments did flot show significant differences on exsudate conductivity or on protein content. On the other hand, the levels of sugar and lipid were slightly reduced when the time of ageing increased. It was observed a non proportional increase on fatty acids related to the decrease on lipid leveI. It was concluded that ageing resulted in a decrease on viability of seeds, so that a preferential use of lipid and sugar was observed on ageing of seeds. There was not any evident change on cell membrane permeability.