Cheilanthes fendleri Hook.

  • 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 fendleri Hook.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes short- to long-creeping, horizontal, 1–3 mm diam.; rhizome scales lanceolate, often deciduous with age, mostly concolorous brown, lustrous, ca. 2 mm long, entire; fronds to 30 cm long, approximate to distant; stipes ca. 1/2 the frond length, dark reddish brown, terete, lustrous, with scattered, loosely imbricate, linear, whitish scales 1–2 mm long; blades lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 3–4-pinnate, 1.5–5 cm wide; pinnae 10–14 pairs, equilateral; costae abaxially with scales lanceolate to deltate-lanceolate, truncate to subcordate, bases without overlapping lobes, strongly imbricate, often concealing segments, entire to denticulate, lacking cilia; ultimate segments bead-like, the largest 1.5–3 mm; adaxial surfaces glabrous; abaxial surfaces glabrous or with a few scales near segment bases; laminar margins recurved, but not differentiated; sporangia 64-spored; spores brown; 2n =60 (USA).

  • Discussion

    Myriopteris fendleri (Hook.) E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 125. 1872. Type. U.S.A. New Mexico: Fendler 1015, in 1847 (presumably K; isotype GH!, frag. US!, NY!)

    Young, sterile plants of Cheilanthes fendleri are occasionally misidentified as C. pringlei; they are distinguished from that species by having rachises that are terete (not adaxially grooved).