Flowering and fruiting phenologies of the palm Acrocomia aculeata: patterns and consequences

Fruit set, fruit production, and fruit fall of the arborescent palm Acrocomia aculeata were documented for the Distrito Federal in central Brazil in 1984-1986. Flowering began in August and extended to mid-December with the highest concentration of open inflorescences (>50% of the total) occurring from mid-October until mid-November. There was a significant correlation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient; r = 0.69; N = 8; P = 0.05) between flowering time and fruit set over the course of the reproductive season. The inflorescences that opened in October were those that produced highest fruit set, with fruit set mean of 25.4 percent (SD = 20.9) in the first half and 28.9 percent (SD = 24.4) in the second half of October. Overall, fruit set was less than 10.0 percent, although it ranged from 0 to 85.0 percent. Each infructescence produced about 60 fruits, but it ranged from 0 to 271 fruits. Fruit fall occurred for 6 to 10 months, generally concentrated from October to January.