High Water Requirement Controls Germination Phenology in <i>Miconia rubiginosa</i> (Melastomataceae), a Late-Rainy-Season Fruiting Species from Tropical Seasonal Ecosystems

[Premise of research] Seed dormancy is one of the main mechanisms controlling germination timing, particularly in species that fruit late in the rainy season. However, a less understood and alternative strategy involves a fine-tuning of germination with strict environmental requirements. Here, we hypothesized that temperature and soil water availability can control the germination timing of Miconia rubiginosa, a widely distributed Neotropical tree that releases nondormant seeds at the end of the rainy season.