Wright's Cliffbrake (Wildlife and Wildflowers of Texas - Wildflowers Pt. 1)

Wright's Cliffbrake

Pellaea wrightiana

Introduction ⁶

The Wright's Cliffbrake is one of several fern species that has a greatly disjunct species distribution. Although a majority of the population is found in the SW United States, there is also a population spread throughout the Edward's Plateau, and another population thriving in the Appalachians of North Carolina. This cliff-dweller is often found nestled beneath large boulders and stones on the limestone and granite of the Texas Hill Country.

Size ⁶

15-30 cm tall; can grow up to 50 cm.

Life Cycle ⁶

Sporulates from Early Summer to Mid-Fall.

Identification ⁶

Rhizome scales with two distinct colors, black in center with brown along margins; petioles dark brown, shiny; leaf blades 2-pinnate basally to 1-pinnate-pinnatifid distally, usually 8-25 cm long, 1-4.5 cm wide, monomorphic; rachis and costae usually glabrous; pinnae attached to rachis so their tips point straight out or slightly towards tip of leaf, mostly with 3-9 ultimate segments each, at least the basal pinnae with completely separate segments; ultimate leaf segments narrowly oblong, apically mucronate, leathery, glabrous.

Habitat ⁶

Found in rocky areas an on cliffsides in a wide variety of soils from acidic to mildly basic. Usually found on limestone or granite, but has also been noted on sandstone boulders.

Fontes e Créditos

Sem direitos reservados, enviado por Alan Weakley
(c) Katja Schulz, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/treegrow/25468981791/
(c) Scott Schuette, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), enviado por Scott Schuette
(c) Bob O'Kennon, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), enviado por Bob O'Kennon
(c) kilasiak, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), enviado por kilasiak
(c) Justin Foucart, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)

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