[Wikipedia] Habitat, Description: The fern grows in rocky cliffs and slopes of igneous origin. Pellaea brachyptera grows from a branching reddish-brown rhizome several centimeters long. Each gray-green leaf is an elongated, narrow branch up to 40 centimeters long. It is composed of a straight dark brown rachis lined with leaflets which are each divided into pointed, leathery, almost needlelike linear segments. The edges of each segment are rolled under. The sporangia are located under the edges. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)