Nidularium purpureum Beer

Literature references:

Antoine 1884: 25 Lea 1984: 22 Leme 2000a: 14,40,122cp,250h,258d Oliva-Esteve 2000a: 140 Rauh 1981, 1990: Abb. 317 Richter 1962, 1978: 240 Smith & Downs 1979: 1616,1618: 1623* Steens 2003: 124

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Comments:

• DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT
  Nidularium purpureum lives in the understory of the Atlantic forest. It has an epiphytic, saxicolous or terrestrial habit and is often found in deep shade, from 200 to 800 m altitude. In contrast to N. itatiaiae which is endemic to the Serra da Mantiqueira and lives at altitudes of over 600 m, N purpureum is typical of the Serra do Mar both on the coast and farther inland. Its populations are concentrated in Rio de Janeiro with only one collection in Minas Gerais in the Juiz de Fora region, not far from the Rio de Janeiro border. The fact that Sao Paulo was indicated at the origin of the type specimen of N. wettsteinii appears to be incorrect. It may only reflect the exit port of the specimens.
  This species flowers from January to April and is protected in Tijuca National Park, where the populations have a color pattern on the leaves and bracts that is compatible with the original concept of the taxon according to Beer and Antoine. There are several clones of N. purpureum in cultivation. —See Leme 2000a