Cheilanthes aurantiaca (Cav.) T.Moore

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Pteridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cheilanthes aurantiaca (Cav.) T.Moore

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes compact, horizontal to ascending, 3–4 mm diam.; rhizome scales lanceolate, concolorous, tan, bicolorous with age, entire, 4–5 mm long; fronds to 36 cm long, clumped; stipes 1/9–1/3 the length of the fronds, terete, red-brown, lustrous, with scattered to sparse, tan, lanceolate scales, varying to hairs on adaxial rachial surfaces; blades lanceolate to elliptic, 4–8.5 cm wide, narrowed at bases, pinnate-pinnatifid to bipinnate; pinnae 7–14 pairs, linear-lanceolate; adaxial surfaces with scattered, white, jointed hairs ca. 1 mm long, more abundant along blade margins; abaxial surfaces with yellow-orange farina; sori marginal; blade margins recurved and differentiated, entire; sporangia 32-spored; spores light to dark brown.

  • Discussion

    Pteris aurantiaca Cav., Descr. Pl. 266. 1801. Type. Mexico. Me´xico: “montes de Chalma,” Ne´e s.n. (MA). Pteris lutea Cav., Descr. Pl. 267. 1801. Cheilanthes lutea (Cav.) T. Moore, Index Fil. 246. 1861. Aleuritopteris lutea (Cav.) E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 121. 1872. Type. Mexico. Me´xico: “montes de Chalma,” Ne´e s.n. (MA). Allosorus ochracea Hook. in Bentham, Pl. Hartw. 55. 1840. Cheilanthes ochracea Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 114. 1858. Type. Mexico. [Michoca´n:] Morelia, Hartweg 418 (K!; isotype L, photos NY!, TEX!, US!).

    Cheilanthes aurantiaca is distinct by the lanceolate to elliptic, pinnate-pinnatifid to bipinnate blade and the gold farina on the abaxial surfaces of the pinnae