Cliffbrakes
Guides
Pellaea
cliffbrakes
Pellaea is a genus of ferns in the Cheilanthoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae, commonly known as cliffbrakes. The genus name derives from Greek 'pellos' meaning 'dark,' referring to the bluish-gray stems characteristic of many species. These ferns are primarily adapted to rocky habitats, including cliff faces, rocky slopes, and bluffs. Molecular phylogenetic studies using chloroplast DNA restriction site variation have clarified relationships within the genus, particularly resolving the P. glabella complex and establishing that P. atropurpurea is sister to this complex rather than the previously hypothesized P. breweri.