1. Chiefly lithophytic or epiphytic fern of North America and east Asia
   "rock brake thrives in the crevices of cliff faces";
   - rock polypody, American wall fern, Polypodium virgianum
    
2. Dwarf deciduous lithophytic ferns
   "The rock brake fern thrived in the crevices of the rocky cliff face"
    
3. Any of several small lithophytic ferns of tropical and warm temperate regions
   "The purple rock brake is often found growing in crevices on limestone cliffs";
   - cliff brake, cliff-brake

Derived forms: rock brakes

Type of: fern, polypody

Part of: Cryptogramma, genus Cryptogramma, genus Pellaea, Pellaea

Encyclopedia: Rock brake