Yeasts and coliform bacteria were isolated from water that accumulated in the central cups and adjacent leaf axilae of two bromeliads,Neoregelia cruentaof a coastal sand dune andQuesnelia quesnelianaof a mangrove ecosystem near the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The mean total coliform counts were above 10 000 per 100 mL for waters of both plants, but the mean fecal coliform counts were only 74 per 100 mL forQ.quesnelianaand mostly undetected in water fromN.cruenta. Of 90 fecal coliform isolates, 51 were typical ofEscherichia coliin colony morphology and indol, methyl red, Volges–Proskauer, and citrate (IMViC) tests. Seven representatives of the typicalE.colicultures were identified as this species, but the identifications of nine other coliform bacteria were mostly dubious. The yeast community ofN.cruentawas typical of plant surfaces with basidiomycetous yeasts anamorphs, and the black yeastAureobasidium pullulanswas prevalent.Quesnelia quesnelianahad a substantial proportion of ascomycetous yeasts and their anamorphs, including a probable new biotype ofSaccharomyces unisporus. Our results suggested that the microbial communities in bromeliad waters are typically autochtonous and not contaminants.Key words: yeasts, fecal coliforms, bromeliad waters, mangrove, Restinga.