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Home/Species/ Sierra Cliffbrake

Pellaea brachyptera

(T. Moore) Baker

Sierra Cliffbrake

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 38 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Medium - lowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153650
Element CodePPADI0H030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderFilicales
FamilyPteridaceae
GenusPellaea
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-08-23
Change Date1991-08-19
Edition Date2023-08-23
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2023).
Threat ImpactMedium - low
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Sierra Cliffbrake (Pellaea brachyptera) occurs in the northwestern United States, in northern California and western Oregon, with disjunct populations in Washington and Idaho, it is estimated that there are between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide. It is threatened by grazing by horses and perhaps livestock, and invasive exotic plants (WA NHP 2013).
Range Extent Comments
Sierra Cliffbrake (Pellaea brachyptera) occurs in the northwestern United States, in northern California and western Oregon, with disjunct populations in Washington and Idaho. Range extent was estimated to be 365,000 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1982 and 2023 (CCH2 Portal 2023, Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993, GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1982 and 2023, it is estimated that there are between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide (CCH2 Portal 2023, GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
Sierra Cliffbrake (Pellaea brachyptera) is threatened by grazing by horses and perhaps livestock, and invasive exotic plants (WA NHP 2013).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species usually occurs on igneous substrates, shale, granite, and occasionally on serpentine, on cliffs, rock outcrops and rocky slopes and rocky open conifer woodlands at elevations ranging from 600 to 2700 meters (CCH2 Portal 2023, Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS4Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
WashingtonS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (38)
California (35)
AreaForestAcres
BackboneShasta-Trinity National Forest11,466
Big Butte ShinboneMendocino National Forest4,265
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
ChinquapinShasta-Trinity National Forest22,040
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Cub CreekLassen National Forest8,643
EagleShasta-Trinity National Forest6,553
East ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest6,201
East GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest27,894
Fisher Gulch BShasta-Trinity National Forest4,791
Grizzly PeakPlumas National Forest6,222
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hobo GulchShasta-Trinity National Forest88
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Mill CreekLassen National Forest7,587
Mt. HarknessLassen National Forest197
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
Stoveleg GapShasta-Trinity National Forest61
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
West BeegumShasta-Trinity National Forest5,198
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
References (6)
  1. CCH2 Portal. 2023. Consortium of California Herbaria. Online. Available: https//:www.cch2.org/portal/index.php (accessed 2023).
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  4. iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Description of <i>Pellaea brachyptera</i> in Washington. Online. Available : https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_nh_pebr3.pdf (accessed 2023).