Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Pellaea intermedia Mettenius ex Kuhn
(Creeping Cliff Brake)

Family: Pteridaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Pellaea intermedia is one of the hardest to find of this genus in the Gila National Forest. It is immediately distinguishable from all our other local Pellaea species by virtue of its light colored rachis. The rachis appears almost white from above, and tan from below. The pinnules are quite large and the false indusium takes up a small percentage of the undersurface of the pinnule. The ultimate segments are elliptic and not deeply cordate. The substrate upon which Pellaea intermedia grows can vary. They can usually be found hiding among the rocks in limestone cliffs.
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Pellaea intermedia, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Bear Mountain, Jan. 28, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, abaxial surface, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Bear Mountain, Jan. 28, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, 2x macro of adaxial surface-- notice particularly the light colored costa, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Bear Mountain, Jan. 28, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, 1x macro of apex of pinnae obtuse and slightly mucronate, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Bear Mountain, Jan. 28, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, 1x macro of abaxial surface, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Bear Mountain, Jan. 28, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, adaxial surface, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Bear Mountain, Jan. 28, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, adaxial surface, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Little Bear Mountain, Feb. 14, 2009



Pellaea intermedia, DAZ herbarium, collector Dale A. Zimmerman 4086, 6 September 1992, 2 mi W of San Lorenzo


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