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| Pellaea atropurpurea (purple cliffbrake) |
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The rock outcrops that occur at the drier of the two main prairies at big hollow support a population of purple cliffbrake. This plant is a fern that is fairly common but restricted to limestone regions. Many ferns species require damp, shaded habitats, but this species exploits radically different habitat, dry and sunny on almost bare rock.
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| Various growth stages of purple cliffbrake on rock |
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| Monarch catapiller feeding on A. viridiflora |
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Today I found several monarch catapillars at Big Hollow, all of which where feeding on green milkweed plants. I have mixed feelings about this situation. I just wish they'd go for the common milkweed thats nearby and leave the rarer seed producing plants alone. Its predatory relationships like this that make green milkweed a well behaved native plant (ie. not weedy).
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