You are in the accessibility menu

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://acervodigital.unesp.br/handle/11449/66853
Title: 
A new rain-operated seed dispersal mechanism in Bertolonia mosenii (Melastomataceae), a Neotropical rainforest herb
Author(s): 
Institution: 
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
ISSN: 
0002-9122
Abstract: 
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.
Issue Date: 
19-Mar-2002
Citation: 
American Journal of Botany, v. 89, n. 1, p. 169-171, 2002.
Time Duration: 
169-171
Keywords: 
  • Atlantic forest
  • Bertolonia
  • Brazil
  • Hydrochory
  • Melastomataceae
  • Seed dispersal
  • herb
  • rainfall
  • rainforest
  • seed dispersal
  • Bryophyta
  • Fungi
  • Magnoliophyta
  • Marchantiophyta
Source: 
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4131350
URI: 
Access Rights: 
Acesso restrito
Type: 
outro
Source:
http://repositorio.unesp.br/handle/11449/66853
Appears in Collections:Artigos, TCCs, Teses e Dissertações da Unesp

There are no files associated with this item.
 

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.