Cheilanthes leucopoda Link

  • 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 leucopoda Link

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes compact, horizontal, 4–10 mm diam.; rhizome scales linear, concolorous, dull orange-tan, entire; fronds to 35 cm long, clumped; stipes ca. 2/3 the frond length, stramineous, grooved distally, with a few scales at base, also with abundant patent hairs 0.5–1 mm long; blades broadly pentagonal, 4-pinnate, 5–15 cm wide; rachises grooved adaxially; basal pinnae strongly inequilateral, the basal basiscopic pinnules greatly exaggerated, costae green to stramineous; ultimate segments oblong to lanceolate, not bead-like, the largest 3–5 mm; adaxial and abaxial surfaces with scattered stiff hairs similar to those on the axes; segment tips curved and weakly differentiated as false indusia, sori discontinuous, concentrated on apical and lateral lobes; sporangia 32- spored; spores dark brown; 2n = 60 (NL, USA).

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Hort. berol. (B).

    Cheilanthes leucopoda has 32 spores per sporangium but is a sexual diploid (Windham & Rabe in FNA Ed. Comm., 1993). This species is distinct in its broadly deltate hairy blades with stramineous axes. Molecular evidence (Cranfill, unpubl.) suggests a relationship with C. aurea in Notholaena, though it lacks the farina of that species.

  • Distribution

    Rocky slopes and ledges, apparently confined to limestone; (150 m in Tam) 1000–2250 m. USA (Tex); Mexico.

    Mexico North America|