Vriesea fidelensis is a species of epiphytic bromeliad in the genus Vriesea. It is endemic to the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, specifically found within the Atlantic Forest biome.
The specific epithet fidelensis is a tribute to the municipality of São Fidélis, Rio de Janeiro, where the species was first discovered.
The species was formally described in 1999 by the Brazilian botanist Elton Leme in the scientific journal Bradea. The holotype was collected by Leme himself on May 1, 1989, in the locality of **Bela Joana**, a mountainous region within São Fidélis. The specimen flowered in cultivation in February 1999, allowing for its detailed description and classification.
Vriesea fidelensis is an epiphytic perennial that forms a dense rosette of 15 to 25 glossy, strap-like leaves, measuring 30âÂÂ50 cm in length. These leaves form a central "tank" for water and nutrient storage. The inflorescence is an erect spike, 40âÂÂ60 cm tall, featuring vibrant bracts ranging from red to orange. The flowers are tubular and yellow-green in color. After flowering, the plant typically produces basal offsets (pups) for vegetative propagation.
The species is restricted to humid montane forests (dense ombrophilous forest) in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro state. It is considered a rare species with a very limited geographic range, often found in fragmented high-altitude habitats.
According to the Red Book of Endemic Flora of the State of Rio de Janeiro (2018), Vriesea fidelensis is classified as **Endangered (EN)** due to its small area of occupancy (approx. 12 kmò) and the ongoing fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest due to agricultural expansion and urbanization.