Fenología de palmeras arborescentes nativas de Madre De Dios – Perú

The reproductive phenology of seven species (176 individuals) of arborescent palms was evaluated over 34 months (from May 2005 to July 2008) in Madre de Dios - Peru.  Monthly observations considered and evaluated two phenophases: flowering (buds and flowers) and fructification (immature and ripe fruits), whose production percentages were reduced to 5 categories. Flowering occurred during the rainy season, and fructification occurred in the transition period from dry to rainy season. Mauritia flexuosa showed the highest flowering and fruiting values, that together with Socratea exorrhiza, Euterpe precatoria, Oenocarpus bataua, Iriartea deltoidea, Astrocaryum murumuru and Attalea butyracea are shown to be fundamental components for the conservation of hydraulic lift ecosystems as well as an essential part of the diet of many Amazonian herbivore species thus ensuring their distribution and density in the rainforests of Madre de Dios.