1. Portion of the vegetative frond of the Parsely Fern or Rock Brake (Cryptogramma acrostichiodes) illustrating obovate, crenate pinnules. 2. Portion of reproductive frond illustrating recurved margins of the pinnules beneath which the sori are found. 3. Enlarged sketch of pinnule of reproductive frond.

PARSELY FERN or ROCK BRAKE.
(Cryptogramma acrostichiodes R. Br.)

This is one of the common ferns of dry rocky places - this plant's preferred habitat - in the park. Its local range includes an area between 2500' and 5500'. The botanical range of the plant encompasses an area from Alaska to Laborador and southward to Nevada and New Mexico. In general appearance its light green, densely bunched foliage somewhat resembles parsley (particularly the vegetative fronds) - hence one of its common names, while the generally rocky habitat accounts for the other common name of Rock Brake. It is a herbaceous plant bearing both fertile and vegetative fronds. The latter are very numerous and densely clustered, oval to ovate-lanceolate in outline, 2-3 compound, and from 4" to 10" long. The leafstalks are as long to twice as long as is the foliate part of the sterile frond, and straw-colored. The rachis of the foliate portion is margined or "winged" with green. Pinnules of the non-spore bearing fronds are obovate in outline with crenate (wavy) margins. The spore bearing fronds are longer than the others and extend above them in the dense clump of foliage. The pinnules are linear in outline, with longer petioles and with entire margins that are recurved throughout the entire length. Spores are borne in sori beneath these recurved margins. Rhizome short, creeping to ascending.

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