Pellaea atropurpurea
Purple cliff brake

Photo by Reuben Goforth 

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Key Characteristics

Small fern (50 cm) of sunny calcareous rocks in the Upper Peninsula; leaves triangular and 2-3 times divided, arising from dark purple hairy stalks; sporangia borne on inrolled margins of pinnules.

Status and Rank

  • State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
  • State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
  • Global Rank: G5 - Secure

Occurrences

County NameNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Chippewa22001
Dickinson22001
Keweenaw21987
County Distribution Map for [SNAME]

Updated 05/08/2013. Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

The purple cliff-brake is found on alkaline bedrock outcrops, cliff faces, ledges, and pavement areas in the Upper Peninsula.

Natural Community Types

Associated Plants

Creeping juniper, bearberry, poison ivy, fragile fern, wild columbine, common juniper, creeping juniper, Gillman's goldenrod, sand violet, chokecherry, and fly honeysuckle.

Management

The species requires protection of the dry, rocky habitat from human foot traffic or clifftop development.

General Survey Guidelines

Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgement of the investigator.

Survey Methods

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/explorer [Accessed May 18, 2013]

More Information

See MNFI Species Abstract

References

Survey References

Technical References