Mostly small southern ferns growing on rocks, pubescent or tomentose with
much divided leaves. Sori at the end of the veins at first small and
roundish, but afterwards more or less confluent. The indusium whitish and
sometimes herbaceous, formed of the reflexed margin of the lobes or of the
whole pinnule. Veins free, but often obscure. Most of the ferns of this
genus grow in dry, exposed situations, where rain is sometimes absent for
weeks and months. For this reason they protect themselves by a covering
of hairs, scales or wool, which hinders the evaporation of water from the
plant by holding a layer of more or less saturated air near the surface of
the frond. (In Greek the word means _lip flower_, alluding to the lip-like
indusia.)
(1) ALABAMA LIP FERN. _Cheilánthes alabaménsis_
Fronds smooth, two to ten inches long, lanceolate, bipinnate. Pinnæ
numerous, oblong-lanceolate, the lower usually smaller than those above.
Pinnules triangular-oblong, mostly acute, often auricular or lobed at the
base. Indusia pale, membranous and continuous except between the lobes.
Stipes black, slender and tomentose at the base.
[Illustration: Alabama Lip Fern. _Cheilanthes alabamensis_ (From Waters's
"Ferns," Henry Holt & Co.)]
This species of lip fern may be distinguished from all the others within
our limits by its smooth pinnæ. On rocks--mountains of Virginia to
Kentucky, and Alabama, and westward to Arizona.
(2) HAIRY LIP FERN. _Cheilánthes lanòsa, C. véstita_
[Illustration: Hairy Lip Fern]
Fronds twice pinnate, lanceolate with oblong, pinnátifid pinnules; seven
to fifteen inches tall, slender and rough with rusty, jointed hairs. Pinnæ
triangular-ovate, usually distant, the ends of the rounded lobes reflexed
and forming separate involucres which are pushed back by the ripening
sporangia.
This species like the other lip ferns is fond of rocks, springing from
clefts and ledges. While hairy it is much less tomentose than the two
following species. Unlike most of the rock-loving ferns this species is not
partial to limestone, but grows on other rocks as well. It has been found
as far north as New Haven, Conn., also near New York, and in New Jersey,
Georgia, and westward to Wyoming and southward.
(3) WOOLLY LIP FERN. _Cheilánthes tomentòsa_
Fronds eight to eighteen inches long, lanceolate-oblong, tripinnate. Pinnæ
and pinnules ovate-oblong, densely woolly especially beneath, with slender,
whitish, obscurely jointed hairs. Of the ultimate segments the terminal
one is twice as long as the others. Pinnules distant, the reflexed, narrow
margin forming a continuous, membranous indusium. Stipe stout, dark brown,
densely woolly.
By donning its thick coat of wool this species is prepared to grow in
the most exposed situations of the arid southwest. It is said to be the
"rarest, tallest and handsomest of the lip ferns."
Mountains of Virginia and Kentucky to Georgia, and west to Missouri, Texas
and Arizona.
(4) SLENDER LIP FERN
_Cheilánthes Féei, C. lanuginòsa_
Stipes densely tufted, slender, at first hairy, dark brown, shining. Fronds
three to eight inches long, ovate-lanceolate, with thickish, distinctly
articulated hairs, twice or thrice pinnate. Pinnæ ovate, the lowest
deltoid. Pinnules divided into minute, densely crowded segments, the
herbaceous margin recurved and forming an almost continuous indusium.
[Illustration: Slender Lip Fern]
The slender lip fern, known also as Fée's fern, is much the smallest of the
lip ferns, averaging, Clute tells us, "but two inches high." This is only
one-third as tall as the woolly lip fern and need not be mistaken for it.
The fronds form tangled mats difficult to unravel. It grows on dry rocks
and cliffs--Illinois and Minnesota to British Columbia, and south to Texas,
New Mexico and Arizona.
[Illustration: Pinnæ of Slender Lip Fern. _Cheilanthes Féei_ (From Waters's
"Ferns," Henry Holt & Co.)]