Cheilanthes parryi

Common Name: Parry's Lipfern
Oˊodham Name: [unkknown]
Group: Annuals － Chaparral

Description

Cheilanthes parryi is a small xerophytic fern that grows on rocky slopes at 3500-5500 feet elevation in areas of light shade and surface moisture or runoff, usually on granite outcrops. Leaves have a bumpy surface covered by long hairs and curl up to survive long periods of drought. The hairs give the plant a gray, wooly appearance and these adaptations permit the species to survive in a hot, arid environment. The specimen shown here grows on Kitt Peak.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Division Pteridophyta－ Ferns

Class Filicopsida

Order Polypodiales

Family Pteridaceae － Maidenhair Fern family

Genus Cheilanthes Sw. － lipfern

Species Cheilanthes parryi (D.C. Eaton) Domin － Parry's lipfern

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map