For those interested in rare and unusual plants, the island of Newfoundland has been called the best kept secret in North America . Both plants are endemic to Newfoundland, occurring only on a narrow strip of land extending approximately 150 km on the extreme western portion of the Great Northern Peninsula. They share a common limestone barrens habitat, which is very tundra-like with extreme exposure to the Strait of Belle Isle and shallow, disturbed soils rich in calcium.
Habitat loss is the most immediate cause of low braya population numbers.
Historically, the majority of the fishing settlements occur along this narrow strip, and development and roads have heavily impacted the limestone habitat. In addition, gravel quarrying has destroyed much of the barrens habitat. At present, researchers know of only three populations of Long s braya, the largest of which is growing on private land. Thanks to additional populations discovered in a 1999 field survey, scientists now know of 11 populations of Fernald s braya. The two braya species are closely related to one another.