The aim of this work was to evaluate, by the physiological and growth variables, the behavior of paricá seedlings submitted to cadmium aplications. Cadmium is a importante metal due the industrial use, the accumulation in the environment, the high mobility in the soil-plant system, and possibly by changing physiological and growth parameters in plants. Among the plants that can be affected by this metal is the species (Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke), known as paricá. Native from the amazona region, presents great social, economic and environmental potential. Among the physiological variables analyzed, cadmium interfered with photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration, mainly with the increase of the concentrations of this element. Among the correlated variables, the variable intrinsic efficiency of water use (EiUA), presented high in the stress conditions maintaining the minimum of water balance. For the growth variables, the cadmium provided a decrease in the height, diameter, number of leaves and leaflets influencing the low synthesis of photoassimilates. The phytotoxic element was mainly concentrated in the roots, but there was translocation to shoot, signaling a phytoextractive characteristic.