PHENOLOGY OF Cybistax antisyphilitica (MART.) MART. (Bignoniaceae) IN URBAN AREA OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF JATAI, SATE OF GOIAS, BRAZIL

The tree Cybistax antisyphilitica (ipe-verde) is widespread in the cerrado of the Brazilian Central Plateau, showing green flowers and dehiscent fruits with wind dispersed seeds. We studied the phenology of leaf fall, leaf flushing, flowering and fruiting in the urban area of Jatai city, Goias state. Seventeen trees were observed twice a month from May/2006 to January/2009. The trees showed high synchrony within each phenophases, and annual seasonal pattern. Leaf fall occurred in the dry season, followed by leaf flushing in late dry season. Flowering was concentrated in early wet season, soon after the vegetative events. Fruit dehiscence and dispersal of anemochoric seeds occurred at the end of dry season. Usually, events showed negative significant correlations with all environmental variables, both in the current month and up to two months prior to the event occurrence. This suggests a gradual increase in the leaf production, flowers and fruits associated with the decrease in rainfall, humidity and temperature. However, phylogenetic relationships and pollinators and dispersers interactions may also regulate the phenology of C. antisyphilitica.