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.
