This is the first of a series of papers in which the germinative
behaviour of seed of plants of Brazil's native forests will be described. Suinã
(Erythrina speciosa, Andr.), is a native of Brazilian forests bearing, at blooming
time beautiful bright red flowers and this makes it very becoming for ornamental
purposes. The study of the germinative behaviour of the seeds of this species
showed that the seeds are deeply dormant just after maturation, this dormancy
being due to the seed coat impermeability to water. Seed scarification was found to
allow the seeds to germinate promptly. When the scarification was made on the
hypocotyl-radicle axis end the results were even better: the speed of germination
was higher and the resulting plants larger and heavier.