VARIATION IN SEED WEIGHT FROM VARIOUSLY-SEEDED FRUITS OF COSTA RICAN RAINFOREST MUCUNA MUTtS/ANA (LEGUMINOSAE) VINES

Abstract

Mucuna mutisiana (Leguminosae) is a common large woody liana (vine) of secondary successional rain forest in Corcovado National Park, southwestern Costa A ica. It bears large fruits that are usually 2-seeded (range, 1·3). Average seed weight for 2-seeded fruits was 9. 08-6.86 g, and seeds from 2·seeded fruits always averaged greater or the same in weight as did seeds from l ·and 3·seeded fruits from the same plant Each of four of the eight crops had seeds that were significantly different in weight from the seeds in the other seven crops. The lightest and the heaviest seeds in an entire crop were almost always in 2-seeded fru its. Since there is virtually no seed predation or animal seed dispersal for M. mutisiana, these crop parameters have been evolutionarily produced by other forces. All raw seed weights are included with this paper.