ABSTRACT  

Flowering and fruiting periodicities, seed germination, proximate composition and phytochernical contents of edible fruits/seeds of seven woody plant species of the Nigerian rainforest were studied at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria from 1st January. 2007 to 30th September, 2007. The seven species were: Canariurn schweinfurt  Dacryodes eduiis, Dennetia iripetala, Hevea hrasiiiensis, Parkia biglobosa, j?icinus conirnunis and Uvaria charnae. Hevea brasiliensis had bimodal flowering periodicity (January — March) while the other six plant species had unimodal flowering periods. ('anariwn schweinfurihii (February — March and June July) and I-f. brazil/ens/s (April June and September — October) had bimodal fruiting periods. The other five plant species had unimodal fruiting periods. The statistically equal seed germination percentages (100%) of D. edulis, H. brasiliensis, R. conimunis and U chaniae were significantly higher than those of G. schweinfurt h/i, P. biglobosa and D. iripetala. Hevea brasiliensis had hypogeal germination while the other six species had epigeal germination. Pcirkia biglobosa had significantly the highest moisture contents (MC) while 1). tripe/ala and (I chuinac with statistically similar MC gave the least results. Uvaria chamac and P. cc/u/is had the highest and least (P 0.05) dry matter (DM) contents. Uvaria charnae and D. edulis gave significantly the highest and least ash contents. C'anariurn schweinfurthii and D. edulis had the highest and least (P < 0.50) crude protein (CP) contents respectively Dacryodes edulis and D. tripe/ala gave significantly the highest and least ether extracts (EF) respectively. C'anariurn schweinfurthii and R. communis had respectively, the highest and least crude fibre (CF) contents. Ut'ariu channie and I). edielis gave significantly the highest and least carbohydrate (CHO) contents respectively. I-fe yea bras/liens/s and P. h iglohosa had significantly the highest and flavonoid contents respectively. Ricinus conimunis and D. edulis respectively gave the highest and least (P < 0.05) phytate contents. Hevea brash/ens/s had significantly the highest alkaloid content while D. edulis and P. biglobosa, with statistically similar values, gave the least (P < 0.05) alkaloid contents. Uvaria chaniae and D. cc/u/is had significantly the highest and least P contents respectively. Ricinus communis and D. edulis gave respectively the highest and least (P < 0.05) K contents. Dennelia tripe/ala had significantly the highest Na content while P. biglohosa and H. hras'iliensi,s with statistically similar Na contents, gave the least (P < 0.05) results. Denneiia tripelala had significantly the highest Ca and Mg contents while C'. schweinfurthii and H. bras/liens/s gave respectively the least Ca and Mg contents.