plant · GBIF taxon 5275421
California Fern
Pellaea mucronataAlso known as Bird's Foot Cliffbrake, Bird's-foot Fern, Tea Fern
Bird's foot cliffbrake clings to dry, rocky crevices and steep canyon walls throughout California's chaparral and oak woodlands. Its distinctive bluish-green fronds feature stiff, narrow leaflets grouped in threes that closely resemble tiny bird footprints. During hot, dry summer months, the foliage curls tightly inward to conserve moisture, appearing dead until the winter rains trigger a rapid revival.
Drought-tolerantRocky SlopesNative Plant
Licensed referenceStan Shebs / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
- family
- Pteridaceae
- threats
- Habitat loss, invasive weeds, severe wildfires
- life Span
- Perennial (can live for decades)
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Look for the bird's foot: Examine the leaf segments, which branch into three distinct leaflets resembling a tiny bird's footprint.
- Observe during dry spells: Watch how the fronds curl tightly and turn grayish to survive drought, reviving quickly after rain.
- Watch your step: Avoid climbing on fragile rock faces where these ferns anchor their delicate root systems.