Distribution & Habitat
Some 20 years ago, N. atalaiaense was easy to find in the type locality at Morro do Atalaia. The populations consisted of small clumps of plants scattered over the forest floor or on rocks in rather shady spots of the arboreal restinga vegetation near sea level. As the years went by, the type population gradually receded not only because of habitat destruction but also due to collecting activities, and today it has practically disappeared from the area.
Fortunately populations of N. atalaiaense are still found on Cabo Frio Island just across a narrow channel from Morro do Atalaia. The highest peak in the area ( 407 m) is on this island. There is an outpost of the Brazilian Navy here that has provided reasonable protection for the native vegetation, a gradation of several different types of restinga. Nidularium atalaiaense also grows on attractive rocky outcrops where it exhibits an intense red coloration. Atlantic forest formations are found in the steep, moist crevices and at higher elevations on the island, often covered by fog, and here we find N. procerum.
Due to its well-preserved vegetation, Cabo Frio Island is home to a varied bromeliad flora of some 25 different species. Some taxa are endemic, such as N. atalaiaense, Bi/lbergia pyramidalis var. lutea, Tillandsia gardneri var. rupicola, T. sprengeliana, T. neglecta and Vriesea eltoniana (Leme, 1985) . The area lies within an important Center of Plant Diversity, the Cabo Frio Region (Araujo, 1997) .
At least two clones of N. atalaiaense are widely cultivated. —SeeLeme 2000a