Cheilanthes lanosa

Stems compact to short-creeping, usually 4–8 mm diam.; scales often uniformly brown but at least some on each plant with thin, poorly defined, dark, central stripe, linear-lanceolate, straight to slightly contorted, loosely appressed, persistent. Leaves clustered, 7–50 cm; vernation circinate. Petiole dark brown, rounded adaxially. Blade linear-oblong to lanceolate, usually 2-pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 1.5–5 cm wide; rachis rounded adaxially, lacking scales, with monomorphic pubescence. Pinnae not articulate, dark color of stalk continuing into pinna base, basal pair slightly smaller than adjacent pair, ± equilateral, appearing sparsely hirsute adaxially. Costae brown adaxially for most of length; abaxial scales absent. Ultimate segments oblong to lanceolate, not beadlike, the largest 3–5 mm, abaxially and adaxially sparsely hirsute with long, segmented hairs. False indusia marginal, weakly differentiated, 0.05–0.25 mm wide. Sori discontinuous, concentrated on small apical and lateral lobes. Sporangia containing 64 spores. 2n = 60.

Phenology: Sporulating summer–fall.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and ledges, on a variety of substrates including limestone and granite
Elevation: 100–800 m

Distribution

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Ala., Ark., Conn., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Minn., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Cheilanthes lanosa is apparently confined to the forests and prairies of eastern North America, and reports of this distinctive species from Arizona and New Mexico (A. J. Petrik-Ott 1979) have not been substantiated by herbarium specimens.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.