Pellaea brachyptera
Sierra cliff-brake
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ed Alverson · licence
Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pellaea brachyptera (Sierra cliff-brake) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by extremely narrow linear segments and overall narrow blade.
Sierra cliff-brake is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in rocky crevices and slopes at elevations of 700 to 2,200 meters. Leaf clusters emerge from a compact, short-creeping rhizome with red-brown scales, producing gray-green fronds 15 to 30 centimeters long and 2 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with delicate 2-pinnate blades, this fern has 5 to 11 linear segments less than 1 centimeter long, each distinctively elongated and narrowly pointed. Its short stipe is 1 to 2 millimeters wide, supporting an oblong blade with segments positioned precisely along the central stem. The rhizome is notably compact, branching extensively and measuring over 8 centimeters long and 1 centimeter wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 4 species; key feature is extremely narrow linear segments and overall narrow blade
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky crevices, slopes, serpentine or not
Elevation: 700-2200 m
California counties: Trinity, Sierra, Placer, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Monterey, Plumas, Mariposa, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Yuba, Nevada, Lassen, Colusa, Del Norte, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Modoc
Outside California: to Washington
How to tell it apart
vs Myriopteris: Flip a leaflet - Pellaea is smooth underneath, Myriopteris feels fuzzy or scaly with hairs or scales.; vs Adiantum: Pellaea has thick, stiff leaflets; Adiantum leaflets are delicate and paper-thin.; vs Pentagramma: Pellaea spore cases cluster only at vein tips; Pentagramma has them scattered along the entire vein length.; vs Lonicera: Pellaea is a fern with separate leaflets; Lonicera is a woody vine or shrub with flowers.; vs Euphorbia: Pellaea is a fern; Euphorbia has milky sap and small flowers with colorful bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pellaea brachyptera native to California?
Yes. Pellaea brachyptera is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Pellaea brachyptera grow?
Pellaea brachyptera occurs in Trinity, Sierra, Placer, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of 700-2200 m.
What plant family does Pellaea brachyptera belong to?
Pellaea brachyptera is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Pellaea.
What habitat does Pellaea brachyptera grow in?
Pellaea brachyptera grows in Rocky crevices, slopes, serpentine or not.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.