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Renato Goldenberg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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First Reports of Vivipary in Neotropical Melastomataceae
International Journal of Plant Sciences, 2021Co-Authors: Lucas F. Bacci, Renato Goldenberg, Fabián A. MichelangeliAbstract:Premise of research. We present here the first reports of vivipary in Neotropical Melastomataceae and remark on the evolutionary relationships among the three lineages that share this feature.Metho...
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A Guide to Curating New World Melastomataceae Collections with a Linear Generic Sequence to World-Wide Melastomataceae
2020Co-Authors: Fabián A. Michelangeli, Frank Almeda, Renato Goldenberg, Darin S. PenneysAbstract:The following guide is aimed at aiding in the curation of herbarium collections in Melastomataceae, with an emphasis on the New World species. It contains a summary of the taxonomic realignments at the tribal and generic level within Neotropical taxa of Melastomataceae, as well as some general comments for other groups. A table with a generic linear sequence is also provided, as well as tables with new and synonymized New World genera since 2005 and all currently accepted species. Lastly, a table with the synonyms of over 1000 accepted Neotropical species that have been impacted by these generic realignments is also provided.
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Structure and evolution of polysporangiate anthers in Melastomataceae
Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 2020Co-Authors: Ana Paula Souza Caetano, Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Renato Goldenberg, Priscila Andressa Cortez, João Paulo Basso-alves, Sandra Maria Carmello-guerreiro, Simone De Pádua TeixeiraAbstract:Abstract Polysporangiate anthers, i.e., anthers bearing more than four sporangia, are an unusual condition that has been reported in several angiosperm families, including Melastomataceae. The structure of anthers in Melastomataceae and taxa from its sister lineage was investigated in 302 species, which were categorized as polysporangiate or non-polysporangiate based on original and literature data. Additionally, the evolutionary history of the anther type in the family was assessed by stochastic character mapping. The polysporangiate anthers of Melastomataceae exhibit two corrugated thecae with transverse septa of parenchymatous tissue partitioning the four pollen sacs into several small locules, this being the most common type of sporangia multiplication among angiosperms. Despite the fact that non-polysporangiate anthers are the most common character-state observed and have been reconstructed in most ancestral nodes of the phylogeny, a relatively large number of transitions to polysporangiate anthers were estimated in our analyses. One event was detected in Meriania, four events were detected in Miconia, and two (with a reversal) or three independent transitions in Microlicia. Most species with polysporangiate anthers occur in Microlicia, representing about 41 % of the species in the genus. Even though tetrasporangiate anthers are the most common condition among angiosperms, dithecal polysporangiate anthers occur in at least 74 taxa of Melastomataceae, in a unique association with poricidal dehiscence.
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Revisiting the classification of Melastomataceae: implications for habit and fruit evolution
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2019Co-Authors: Lucas F. Bacci, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Renato GoldenbergAbstract:Bertolonieae (Melastomataceae) have traditionally comprised > 100 Neotropical species in Bertolonia, Boyania, Macrocentrum, Monolena, Salpinga and Triolena and another six species in the monospecific genera Diolena, Diplarpea, Maguireanthus, Opisthocentra, Tateanthus and Tryssophyton. The position of the tribe inside or outside Sonerileae has been discussed since the first classifications of Melastomataceae. These tribes were always considered closely related because of overall similar morphology, mainly herbaceous habit and angular fruits. Previous phylogenetic analyses have shown that Bertolonieae as traditionally circumscribed are not monophyletic and require re-evaluation. These previous results also led to questions on why such herbaceous plants from shaded, moist habitats and with angular fruits had evolved so many times in different and geographically/phylogenetically distant groups of Melastomataceae. We conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses in order to evaluate tribal and generic limits, reconstruct morphological patterns and identify clades in the tribe. To infer the monophyly of Bertolonieae and the genera that were traditionally included in the tribe we analysed three plastid (ndhF, rbcL and rpl16) and two ribosomal (nrETS and nrITS) DNA markers, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference in individual and variously combined data sets comprising up to 6646 characters and 445 terminals. Bertolonieae as traditionally recognized were recovered in four major lineages across the tree. Bertolonieae are recircumscribed here to include only Bertolonia. A new tribe, Trioleneae, with the genera Monolena and Triolena is described on the basis of molecular, geographical and morphological evidence. Our study also shows that the combination of herbaceous habit and angular capsules has evolved several times in Melastomataceae. Besides the taxonomic changes proposed here, the molecular corroboration that Bertolonieae s.l. are not monophyletic and the geographical and morphological congruence found in these lineages, the convergence of morphological characters historically used to identify Bertolonieae s.l. might be explained by the occupation of similar habitats in different places across the world, i.e. in mostly shaded and moist herbaceous layers under the rainforest canopy. The dependence on water for seed dispersal and the limited dispersability could also explain the restriction of the taxa to a limited area or vegetation type190112
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Correction to: Chromosome counts in Chaetogastra (Melastomataceae, Melastomateae)
Brittonia, 2018Co-Authors: Fabrício Schmitz Meyer, Klenya Rocha Braga, Eliana Regina Forni-martins, Renato GoldenbergAbstract:This article was published with an incorrect title. The correct title is: Chromosome counts in Chaetogastra (Melastomataceae, Melastomateae). The original article has been corrected.
Simone De Pádua Teixeira - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Structure and evolution of polysporangiate anthers in Melastomataceae
Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 2020Co-Authors: Ana Paula Souza Caetano, Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Renato Goldenberg, Priscila Andressa Cortez, João Paulo Basso-alves, Sandra Maria Carmello-guerreiro, Simone De Pádua TeixeiraAbstract:Abstract Polysporangiate anthers, i.e., anthers bearing more than four sporangia, are an unusual condition that has been reported in several angiosperm families, including Melastomataceae. The structure of anthers in Melastomataceae and taxa from its sister lineage was investigated in 302 species, which were categorized as polysporangiate or non-polysporangiate based on original and literature data. Additionally, the evolutionary history of the anther type in the family was assessed by stochastic character mapping. The polysporangiate anthers of Melastomataceae exhibit two corrugated thecae with transverse septa of parenchymatous tissue partitioning the four pollen sacs into several small locules, this being the most common type of sporangia multiplication among angiosperms. Despite the fact that non-polysporangiate anthers are the most common character-state observed and have been reconstructed in most ancestral nodes of the phylogeny, a relatively large number of transitions to polysporangiate anthers were estimated in our analyses. One event was detected in Meriania, four events were detected in Miconia, and two (with a reversal) or three independent transitions in Microlicia. Most species with polysporangiate anthers occur in Microlicia, representing about 41 % of the species in the genus. Even though tetrasporangiate anthers are the most common condition among angiosperms, dithecal polysporangiate anthers occur in at least 74 taxa of Melastomataceae, in a unique association with poricidal dehiscence.
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The ontogenetic bases for variation in ovary position in Melastomataceae.
American journal of botany, 2017Co-Authors: João Paulo Basso-alves, Renato Goldenberg, Simone De Pádua TeixeiraAbstract:Premise of the study Although the ovary position is considered a stable character in angiosperms, Melastomataceae species have perigynous flowers in which the ovary varies from superior to inferior. Thus, we investigated the ontogenetic process involved in variation of the ovary position in Melastomataceae. We focused on histogenesis of the floral apex in search of developmental patterns for each type of ovary position. Methods Six species in which the ovary varies from superior to inferior were chosen: Henriettea saldanhae, Leandra melastomoides, Miconia dodecandra, Microlicia euphorbioides, Rhynchanthera grandiflora, and Tibouchina clinopodifolia. Buds and flowers were processed for surface and histological examinations. Key results The floral apex changes from convex to concave, resulting in a perigynous hypanthium. Cell divisions in the margins of the floral apex form an annular intercalary meristem that elevates the base of the primordia of almost all whorls. The joint growth of the carpel base with the gynoecial hypanthium originates semi-inferior ovaries in Leandra melastomoides, Miconia dodecandra, and Tibouchina clinopodifolia and inferior ovaries in Henriettea saldanhae. In Microlicia euphorbioides and Rhynchanthera grandiflora, the carpels are not affected by this hypanthial growth; flowers have a superior ovary. Conclusions Changes in ovary position of Melastomataceae are due to intercalary meristematic activity, which is one of the main mechanisms for the origin of morphological innovations among plants. Our data illustrate the importance of the intercalary meristems in floral development, and we discuss the implications of this ontogenetic model for understanding the evolution of ovary position in Melastomataceae.
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Elucidating the mechanism of poricidal anther dehiscence in Miconia species (Melastomataceae)
Flora - Morphology Distribution Functional Ecology of Plants, 2014Co-Authors: Priscila Andressa Cortez, Ana Paula Souza Caetano, Sandra Maria Carmello-guerreiro, Simone De Pádua TeixeiraAbstract:Abstract Melastomataceae have porate anthers. However, unlike Solanaceae and many monocots, in which the poricidal dehiscence depends on the presence of a mechanical layer (often the endothecium), most members of Melastomataceae have no evident specialized layer related to the poricidal opening. The goal of this study was to characterize the tissues that form the apical pore of the anther in 10 Miconia species, which may help to understand the nearly unknown mechanism of anther dehiscence in this genus, considered to be one of the largest and most diverse New World genera. Before anthesis, the apical pores of all of the species are closed by a uniseriate epidermis, the cells of which lack a cuticle. In contrast, the epidermis of the remainder of the anther is covered by a thick, ornamented cuticle. Among Myrtales, the Melastomataceae form a clade with Alzateaceae, Crypteroniaceae and Penaeaceae, almost all of which have anthers with endothecium lacking wall thickenings. In these families, the endothecium may or may not be present in the mature anther, with degenerating cells in the latter case. Anther dehiscence does not depend on the endothecium as the mechanical layer, and this process is still not well understood. However, in the Miconia species studied here, the cuticle may prevent tissue dehydration, and the pore opening seems to be due to the passive process of dehydration taking place only in the pore region due to the absence of the cuticle.
Marcelo Reginato - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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is dispersal mode a driver of diversification and geographical distribution in the tropical plant family Melastomataceae
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: Marcelo Reginato, Thais N C Vasconcelos, Ricardo Kriebel, Andre Olmos SimoesAbstract:Abstract Species of plants with different life history strategies may differ in their seed dispersal mechanisms, impacting their distribution and diversification patterns. Shorter or longer distance dispersal is favored by different dispersal modes, facilitating (or constraining) population isolation, which can, in turn, impact speciation and species range sizes. While these associations are intuitive, few studies have explicitly tested these hypotheses for large clades of angiosperms. The plant family Melastomataceae is found on disparate habitats with different dispersal modes, representing a good model to address these questions. In this study, we reconstruct the phylogeny of Melastomataceae and gather data on their dispersal mode and range size to test the impact of dispersal mode on diversification and range size evolution. We found that abiotic dispersal is ancestral in the family, while biotic dispersal evolved multiple times. Species richness distribution is very similar across dispersal modes, although abiotically dispersed species tend to be relatively more diverse in seasonal environments. Range sizes across dispersal modes are not significantly different, although biotically dispersed species have slightly wider distributions. Model comparisons indicate that factors other than dispersal mode might have driven diversification heterogeneity. We did not find evidence for the role of dispersal mode driving diversification rates or range size in the Melastomataceae, suggesting a complex macroevolutionary scenario for this diverse angiosperm family. The bulk of changes to biotic dispersal coinciding with an increase in passerine diversification suggests a possible “past” key innovation in Melastomataceae. Future studies should investigate the role of other diversification drivers in the family and the relatively higher diversity of abiotically dispersed species in open habitats.
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A two-tier bioinformatic pipeline to develop probes for target capture of nuclear loci with applications in Melastomataceae.
Applications in plant sciences, 2020Co-Authors: Johanna R. Jantzen, Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Prabha Amarasinghe, Ryan A. Folk, Douglas E. Soltis, Nico Cellinese, Pamela S. SoltisAbstract:Premise Putatively single-copy nuclear (SCN) loci, which are identified using genomic resources of closely related species, are ideal for phylogenomic inference. However, suitable genomic resources are not available for many clades, including Melastomataceae. We introduce a versatile approach to identify SCN loci for clades with few genomic resources and use it to develop probes for target enrichment in the distantly related Memecylon and Tibouchina (Melastomataceae). Methods We present a two-tiered pipeline. First, we identified putatively SCN loci using MarkerMiner and transcriptomes from distantly related species in Melastomataceae. Published loci and genes of functional significance were then added (384 total loci). Second, using HybPiper, we retrieved 689 homologous template sequences for these loci using genome-skimming data from within the focal clades. Results We sequenced 193 loci common to Memecylon and Tibouchina. Probes designed from 56 template sequences successfully targeted sequences in both clades. Probes designed from genome-skimming data within a focal clade were more successful than probes designed from other sources. Discussion Our pipeline successfully identified and targeted SCN loci in Memecylon and Tibouchina, enabling phylogenomic studies in both clades and potentially across Melastomataceae. This pipeline could be easily applied to other clades with few genomic resources.
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Structure and evolution of polysporangiate anthers in Melastomataceae
Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 2020Co-Authors: Ana Paula Souza Caetano, Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Renato Goldenberg, Priscila Andressa Cortez, João Paulo Basso-alves, Sandra Maria Carmello-guerreiro, Simone De Pádua TeixeiraAbstract:Abstract Polysporangiate anthers, i.e., anthers bearing more than four sporangia, are an unusual condition that has been reported in several angiosperm families, including Melastomataceae. The structure of anthers in Melastomataceae and taxa from its sister lineage was investigated in 302 species, which were categorized as polysporangiate or non-polysporangiate based on original and literature data. Additionally, the evolutionary history of the anther type in the family was assessed by stochastic character mapping. The polysporangiate anthers of Melastomataceae exhibit two corrugated thecae with transverse septa of parenchymatous tissue partitioning the four pollen sacs into several small locules, this being the most common type of sporangia multiplication among angiosperms. Despite the fact that non-polysporangiate anthers are the most common character-state observed and have been reconstructed in most ancestral nodes of the phylogeny, a relatively large number of transitions to polysporangiate anthers were estimated in our analyses. One event was detected in Meriania, four events were detected in Miconia, and two (with a reversal) or three independent transitions in Microlicia. Most species with polysporangiate anthers occur in Microlicia, representing about 41 % of the species in the genus. Even though tetrasporangiate anthers are the most common condition among angiosperms, dithecal polysporangiate anthers occur in at least 74 taxa of Melastomataceae, in a unique association with poricidal dehiscence.
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The first complete plastid genomes of Melastomataceae are highly structurally conserved
PeerJ, 2016Co-Authors: Marcelo Reginato, Kurt M. Neubig, Lucas C. Majure, Fabián A. MichelangeliAbstract:Background In the past three decades, several studies have predominantly relied on a small sample of the plastome to infer deep phylogenetic relationships in the species-rich Melastomataceae. Here, we report the first full plastid sequences of this family, compare general features of the sampled plastomes to other sequenced Myrtales, and survey the plastomes for highly informative regions for phylogenetics. Methods Genome skimming was performed for 16 species spread across the Melastomataceae. Plastomes were assembled, annotated and compared to eight sequenced plastids in the Myrtales. Phylogenetic inference was performed using Maximum Likelihood on six different data sets, where putative biases were taken into account. Summary statistics were generated for all introns and intergenic spacers with suitable size for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and used to rank the markers by phylogenetic information. Results The majority of the plastomes sampled are conserved in gene content and order, as well as in sequence length and GC content within plastid regions and sequence classes. Departures include the putative presence of rps16 and rpl2 pseudogenes in some plastomes. Phylogenetic analyses of the majority of the schemes analyzed resulted in the same topology with high values of bootstrap support. Although there is still uncertainty in some relationships, in the highest supported topologies only two nodes received bootstrap values lower than 95%. Discussion Melastomataceae plastomes are no exception for the general patterns observed in the genomic structure of land plant chloroplasts, being highly conserved and structurally similar to most other Myrtales. Despite the fact that the full plastome phylogeny shares most of the clades with the previously widely used and reduced data set, some changes are still observed and bootstrap support is higher. The plastome data set presented here is a step towards phylogenomic analyses in the Melastomataceae and will be a useful resource for future studies.
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Primers for low‐copy nuclear genes in the Melastomataceae
Applications in plant sciences, 2016Co-Authors: Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. MichelangeliAbstract:Premise of the study: Low-copy nuclear gene primers were developed for phylogenetic studies across the Melastomataceae. Methods and Results: Total genomic libraries from eight species in the Melastomataceae along with one transcriptome were used for marker identification and primer design. Eight exon-primed intron-crossing markers were amplified with success in taxa of nine tribes in the Melastomataceae. The new markers were directly sequenced for eight samples of closely related species of Miconia (Chaenanthera clade) in the tribe Miconieae. The DNA sequences for the eight loci ranged from 660 to 818 aligned base pairs. Compared with four commonly used markers in other studies, the loci developed here had a higher number of variable sites than plastid spacers (7–16 vs. 26–45) and comparable variation to the ribosomal spacers (28–39). Conclusions: The novel primer pairs should be useful for a broad range of studies of systematics and evolution in the diverse Melastomataceae.
Fabián A. Michelangeli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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First Reports of Vivipary in Neotropical Melastomataceae
International Journal of Plant Sciences, 2021Co-Authors: Lucas F. Bacci, Renato Goldenberg, Fabián A. MichelangeliAbstract:Premise of research. We present here the first reports of vivipary in Neotropical Melastomataceae and remark on the evolutionary relationships among the three lineages that share this feature.Metho...
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A Guide to Curating New World Melastomataceae Collections with a Linear Generic Sequence to World-Wide Melastomataceae
2020Co-Authors: Fabián A. Michelangeli, Frank Almeda, Renato Goldenberg, Darin S. PenneysAbstract:The following guide is aimed at aiding in the curation of herbarium collections in Melastomataceae, with an emphasis on the New World species. It contains a summary of the taxonomic realignments at the tribal and generic level within Neotropical taxa of Melastomataceae, as well as some general comments for other groups. A table with a generic linear sequence is also provided, as well as tables with new and synonymized New World genera since 2005 and all currently accepted species. Lastly, a table with the synonyms of over 1000 accepted Neotropical species that have been impacted by these generic realignments is also provided.
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A two-tier bioinformatic pipeline to develop probes for target capture of nuclear loci with applications in Melastomataceae.
Applications in plant sciences, 2020Co-Authors: Johanna R. Jantzen, Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Prabha Amarasinghe, Ryan A. Folk, Douglas E. Soltis, Nico Cellinese, Pamela S. SoltisAbstract:Premise Putatively single-copy nuclear (SCN) loci, which are identified using genomic resources of closely related species, are ideal for phylogenomic inference. However, suitable genomic resources are not available for many clades, including Melastomataceae. We introduce a versatile approach to identify SCN loci for clades with few genomic resources and use it to develop probes for target enrichment in the distantly related Memecylon and Tibouchina (Melastomataceae). Methods We present a two-tiered pipeline. First, we identified putatively SCN loci using MarkerMiner and transcriptomes from distantly related species in Melastomataceae. Published loci and genes of functional significance were then added (384 total loci). Second, using HybPiper, we retrieved 689 homologous template sequences for these loci using genome-skimming data from within the focal clades. Results We sequenced 193 loci common to Memecylon and Tibouchina. Probes designed from 56 template sequences successfully targeted sequences in both clades. Probes designed from genome-skimming data within a focal clade were more successful than probes designed from other sources. Discussion Our pipeline successfully identified and targeted SCN loci in Memecylon and Tibouchina, enabling phylogenomic studies in both clades and potentially across Melastomataceae. This pipeline could be easily applied to other clades with few genomic resources.
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Structure and evolution of polysporangiate anthers in Melastomataceae
Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 2020Co-Authors: Ana Paula Souza Caetano, Marcelo Reginato, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Renato Goldenberg, Priscila Andressa Cortez, João Paulo Basso-alves, Sandra Maria Carmello-guerreiro, Simone De Pádua TeixeiraAbstract:Abstract Polysporangiate anthers, i.e., anthers bearing more than four sporangia, are an unusual condition that has been reported in several angiosperm families, including Melastomataceae. The structure of anthers in Melastomataceae and taxa from its sister lineage was investigated in 302 species, which were categorized as polysporangiate or non-polysporangiate based on original and literature data. Additionally, the evolutionary history of the anther type in the family was assessed by stochastic character mapping. The polysporangiate anthers of Melastomataceae exhibit two corrugated thecae with transverse septa of parenchymatous tissue partitioning the four pollen sacs into several small locules, this being the most common type of sporangia multiplication among angiosperms. Despite the fact that non-polysporangiate anthers are the most common character-state observed and have been reconstructed in most ancestral nodes of the phylogeny, a relatively large number of transitions to polysporangiate anthers were estimated in our analyses. One event was detected in Meriania, four events were detected in Miconia, and two (with a reversal) or three independent transitions in Microlicia. Most species with polysporangiate anthers occur in Microlicia, representing about 41 % of the species in the genus. Even though tetrasporangiate anthers are the most common condition among angiosperms, dithecal polysporangiate anthers occur in at least 74 taxa of Melastomataceae, in a unique association with poricidal dehiscence.
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Revisiting the classification of Melastomataceae: implications for habit and fruit evolution
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2019Co-Authors: Lucas F. Bacci, Fabián A. Michelangeli, Renato GoldenbergAbstract:Bertolonieae (Melastomataceae) have traditionally comprised > 100 Neotropical species in Bertolonia, Boyania, Macrocentrum, Monolena, Salpinga and Triolena and another six species in the monospecific genera Diolena, Diplarpea, Maguireanthus, Opisthocentra, Tateanthus and Tryssophyton. The position of the tribe inside or outside Sonerileae has been discussed since the first classifications of Melastomataceae. These tribes were always considered closely related because of overall similar morphology, mainly herbaceous habit and angular fruits. Previous phylogenetic analyses have shown that Bertolonieae as traditionally circumscribed are not monophyletic and require re-evaluation. These previous results also led to questions on why such herbaceous plants from shaded, moist habitats and with angular fruits had evolved so many times in different and geographically/phylogenetically distant groups of Melastomataceae. We conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses in order to evaluate tribal and generic limits, reconstruct morphological patterns and identify clades in the tribe. To infer the monophyly of Bertolonieae and the genera that were traditionally included in the tribe we analysed three plastid (ndhF, rbcL and rpl16) and two ribosomal (nrETS and nrITS) DNA markers, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference in individual and variously combined data sets comprising up to 6646 characters and 445 terminals. Bertolonieae as traditionally recognized were recovered in four major lineages across the tree. Bertolonieae are recircumscribed here to include only Bertolonia. A new tribe, Trioleneae, with the genera Monolena and Triolena is described on the basis of molecular, geographical and morphological evidence. Our study also shows that the combination of herbaceous habit and angular capsules has evolved several times in Melastomataceae. Besides the taxonomic changes proposed here, the molecular corroboration that Bertolonieae s.l. are not monophyletic and the geographical and morphological congruence found in these lineages, the convergence of morphological characters historically used to identify Bertolonieae s.l. might be explained by the occupation of similar habitats in different places across the world, i.e. in mostly shaded and moist herbaceous layers under the rainforest canopy. The dependence on water for seed dispersal and the limited dispersability could also explain the restriction of the taxa to a limited area or vegetation type190112
L. Patrícia C. Morellato - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A new rain-operated seed dispersal mechanism in Bertolonia mosenii (Melastomataceae), a Neotropical rainforest herb
American journal of botany, 2002Co-Authors: Marco Aurélio Pizo, L. Patrícia C. MorellatoAbstract:Although widespread among fungi, lichens, liverworts, and mosses, seed dispersal mechanisms operated by rain are unusual among flowering plants. Generally speaking, two mechanisms are involved in seed dispersal by rains: the splash-cup and the springboard. Here we describe a new seed dispersal mechanism operated by rain in a Neotropical rainforest herb Bertolonia mosenii Cogniaux (Melastomataceae). The study was carried out at the lowland Atlantic rainforest, southeastern Brazil. We experimentally demonstrate that rain is necessary to release the seeds from the capsules through what we call "squirt-corner" seed dispersal mechanism: when a raindrop strikes the mature fruit, the water droplet forces the seeds outward to the angles (corners) of the triangular capsule and the seeds are released. As far as we know squirt-corner represents a new rain-operated seed dispersal mechanism, and a novel seed dispersal mode both for Melastomataceae and for flowering plants from Neotropical forests.