Pellaea atropurpurea — purple cliff-brake
![Plant form: Pellaea atropurpurea. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pteridaceae/pellaea-atropurpurea-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Leaf: Pellaea atropurpurea. ~ By Will Cook. ~ Copyright © 2024 Will Cook. ~ cwcook[at]duke.edu, carolinanature.com ~ North Carolina Plant Photos - www.carolinanature.com/plants/](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pteridaceae/pellaea-atropurpurea-le-wcook.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Pellaea atropurpurea. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pteridaceae/pellaea-atropurpurea-ld-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Pellaea atropurpurea. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pteridaceae/pellaea-atropurpurea-ld-ahaines-c.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Pellaea atropurpurea. ~ By William Cullina. ~ Copyright © 2024 William Cullina. ~ bill[at]williamcullina.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pteridaceae/pellaea-atropurpurea-ld-wcullina.jpg)
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New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeFacts
Purple cliff-brake ranges as far south as Guatemala and as far north as New England. It is found growing from rock crevices on high-pH cliffs or occasionally in the mortar of stone walls in all New England states except Maine. It can be distinguished from its close relative slender cliff-brake (Pellaea glabella var. glabella) by the short, curly hairs on the abaxial side of the ultimate leaf segments.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- man-made or disturbed habitats
- ridges or ledges
Wetland status
Not classified
New England distribution and conservation status
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- uncommon (S-rank: S3), #NAME? (code: #NAME?)
- New Hampshire
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- Rhode Island
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), state endangered (code: SE)
- Vermont
- uncommon (S-rank: S3)
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
Family
Genus
From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae
1. Pellaea atropurpurea (L.) Link N
purple cliff-brake. Pteris atropurpurea L. • CT, MA, NH, RI, VT. High-pH cliffs, rarely on mortar of stone walls.