Photo by Eric J. Epstein

Key Characteristics

Small fern (5-15 cm) of calcareous cliffs and crevices; fronds pinnate with small (1 cm), opposite, oval pinnae; rachis green except at base.

Status and Rank

• State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
• State Rank: S2S3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable
• Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure

Occurrences

County Name	Number of Occurrences	Year Last Observed
Chippewa	4	1993
Keweenaw	1	1997
Leelanau	2	1986
Mackinac	14	2000
Marquette	1	1980
Schoolcraft	2	1978

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.

Natural Community Types

• Mesic northern forest

Associated Plants

Walking fern, polypody, maidenhair spleenwort, northern holly fern, Hart's tongue fern, Braun's Christmas fern.

Management

Generally requires shade and moist, moss-covered limestone or dolomite boulders. Species may be sensitive to drying and scorching from overexposure to sunlight. Maintain overstory and minimize development and fragmentation. When possible, leave large tracts of unharvested forests and allow natural processes (growth, senescence, wind throw, fire, disease, insect infestation, etc) to operate unhindered. If forest is being managed for timber, minimize fragmentation, leave long periods of recuperation between harvests (50-70 yrs.), preserve as much area as possible in a forested matrix, and maintain a range of canopy closure comparable to pre-harvest closure.

General Survey Guidelines

Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgement of the investigator. A systematic survey follows transects as a guide to provide the greatest coverage possible of the area. Greatest coverage occurs with parallel transects spaced equidistant over the area.

Survey Methods

• Meander search

  Survey Period: From first week of June to fourth week of September

  Survey Comments: Search limestone/dolomite boulders and other outcrops

• Systematic survey

  Survey Period: From first week of June to fourth week of September

  Survey Comments: Search limestone/dolomite boulders and other outcrops

References

Survey References

• Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, Denver. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. 477pp.

• Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316

• Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.

• Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.

• Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.

Technical References

• Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1993. Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, New York. 475pp.

• Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.

• Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.

• Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.

• Lellinger, D.B. 1985. A field manual of ferns and fern allies of the United States and Canada.. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington D.C. 389pp.

• Mickel, J.T. 1979. How to know the ferns and fern allies. The Pictured Key Nature Series. William C. Brown Company, Dubuque. 229pp.

Page Citation

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