Worsleya procera
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worsleya
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Worsleya procera faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural development in its restricted range along Brazil's Atlantic coast. The species is particularly vulnerable to collection pressure from horticultural enthusiasts who prize this spectacular bromeliad for its ornamental value. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the specific moisture conditions this epiphytic species requires in its cloud forest habitat.
Habitat
Worsleya procera is endemic to the steep granite cliffs and rocky outcrops of the Atlantic Forest region in southeastern Brazil, particularly in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. This epiphytic bromeliad grows exclusively on vertical rock faces and cliff ledges in montane cloud forests, typically at elevations between 600-1,200 meters where it receives consistent moisture from fog and mist.
