Growth and biomass allocation to roots and shoots of ten native trees of two contrasting savanna communities in central Brazil (Cerrado), differing in woody species density, was studied for up to seven months after germination. We compared three closed savanna woodland species with four open savanna species. Three other species were common to both savanna types. Root/ shoot ratios differed greatly among species but no similar pattern of biomass allocation to roots and shoots was found between species of the same savanna type. After seven months of growth the woodland species Alibertia edulis Rich. had a root/shoot ratio smaller than one and the open savanna species Kielmeyera coriaceae (Spr.) Mart. a ratio equal to nine; the remaining species had values ranging from one to six, irrespective of savanna type. Relative growth rate (RGR) of early stage woodland seedlings (30-day old seedlings) was significantly different from open savanna seedlings (range between 0.059 and 0.192 mg mg -1 day -1 for the woodland species, and between 0.025 and 0.035 mg mg -1 day -1 for the open savanna species; common species had intermediate values). For older seedlings (150-day old seedlings) differences disappear (RGR ranging between 0.013 and 0.030 mg mg -1 day -1 espective of savanna type). The high values of root/shoot ratios and root elongation of most species is probably related to their capacity to withstand the dry season and resprout after fire. ; Se estudió la distribución de biomasa y crecimiento de tallos y raíces de diez árboles nativos de dos comunidades de sabana contrastantes in Brasil central (Cerrado), durante siete meses después de la germinación. Comparamos tres especies de sabana arbolada con cuatro especies de sabana abierta. Las otras tres especies fueron comunes a ambos tipos de sabana. La relación raíz/ tallo mostró grandes diferencias entre especies, pero no se obsrevó lo mismo con la distribución de biomasa para especies del mismo tipo de sabana. Después de siete meses de crecimiento, la especie de sabana ...