Abstract: Horsfieldia pandurifolia Hu is native to tropical rain forest in Yunnan, China. The morphological variations of fruits and seeds among 39 wild individuals were investigated. The results showed that differences of fruits and seeds between individuals were larger than within individual. The ripe fruits were ovoid to long-elliptical in shape, 4-7 cm in length, apex obtuse to acute, pedicel deflective, which were obviously different from the record in the original literature. The ripe seeds varied from ovoid to long-ovoid, sometimes slim or subulate in shape. The seed length, diameter and ratio of length to diameter were significantly different among 39 individuals (p<0.01), variation ranges were 25.05-35.66 mm, 13.30-19.62 mm, 1.47-2.32, respectively. The seed characteristics, including gray testa with brown speckles, hilum and embryo at base, apex acute or shortly beaked, were stable, which were important characteristics differing from other endemic species within genus Horsfieldia.

Key words: rare oil tree, Horsfieldia pandurifolia Hu, fruit, seed, morphological variations