Description
Cheilanthes – Lip Fern –
There are about 150 or more, mainly evergreen ferns, in this genus. They are distributes worldwide. They are among the most drought resistant of ferns, often growing between rocks, frequently in deserts or near deserts, the fronds shrivel in periods of drought and recover after rain. They have erect or creeping rhizomes, producing dense clumps of small, pinnate to 3 pinnate, usually dull green fronds on shiny black stalks. The undersides of the leaf blades may be white mealy and covered with minute hairs or scales. Spores are formed at the margins of the frond segments, which curl under to protect them. In dry climates, grow in a scree bed, rock garden, or in a stone wall.
Grow in sharply drained, gritty, humus rich soil in full sun, and allow plants to dehisce naturally.
C. fendleri – This fern from Southwestern USA and Mexico found in rocky ledges, slopes and crevices produces 3-4 pinnate, ovate triangular blades and lobed bead like pinnules. Blade surfaces are nearly hairless, but stipes are densely scaly.
Zones 4-8
