Cheilanthes brachypus (Kunze) Kunze
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Authority
Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.
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Family
Pteridaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rhizome short, stout, ascending; rhizome scales ca. 8 mm long, 0.3 mm wide at base, linear, brown, slightly contorted, slightly bicolorous with a castaneous center, entire or with an occasional tooth; fronds to 30 cm tall, clumped; stipe nearly lacking, only ca. 2-3 cm long, dark brown; stipe scales linear, 2-3 mm long, 1 mm wide (base serrulate with hastate processes), dull, light brown mixed with fine hairs (2 mm or more long); blade oblanceolate, longest pinnae 3 cm long near middle of frond, narrowing to base, basal pinnae ca. 5 mm long, pinnate-pinnatifid; pinnae non-articulate, below with linear-lanceolate scales serrulate at base covering a dense rusty tomentum of fine hairs; upper surface dark green with scattered curly hairs (1 mm long); sori at vein ends, laminar margin strongly modified into false indusium 0.5 mm wide, margin curved; spores tan to black.
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Discussion
Cheilanthes squamosa Hooker & Greville var. brachypus Kunze, Linnaea 18: 340. 1844. Notholaena brachypus (Kunze) J. Smith, Ferns brit. for. 172. 1866. Type. Mexico. Leibold 52 (B!; isotype K!, photo at GH). Although this species is traditionally placed in Notholaena, it has a well-differentiated false indusium. Cheilanthes brachypus most closely resembles C. sinuata but differs from that species in the false indusium, the sori limited to the vein ends, and the non-articulate pinnae with long, unbranched hairs on both surfaces (although mixed with scales on lower surface).
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Distribution
Rocky slopes and stream banks; Jamiltepec, Juchitán, Juquila, Pochutla, Sola de Vega, Yautepec; 50-1050 m. Mexico (Sin, Nay, Jal, Col, Mich, Gro, Mor, SLP, Ver, Oax, Chis); Guat to CR.
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