Stems long-creeping, 1--3 mm diam.; scales uniformly brown or slightly darker at base, linear-lanceolate, straight to slightly contorted, loosely appressed, often deciduous on older portions of stem. Leaves clustered to somewhat scattered, 4--25 cm; vernation circinate. Petiole brown, grooved adaxially. Blade lanceolate to ovate-deltate, 2-pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 1--4 cm wide; rachis grooved adaxially, not scaly or pubescent. Pinnae not articulate, dark color of stalk continuing into pinna base, basal pair often slightly larger than adjacent pair, ± equilateral, appearing glabrous adaxially. Costae green adaxially for most of length; abaxial scales absent. Ultimate segments oblong to linear, not beadlike, the largest 3--7 mm, abaxially and adaxially glabrous. False indusia marginal, slightly differentiated, 0.05--0.25 mm wide. Sori discontinuous, concentrated on interrupted lateral lobes. Sporangia containing 64 spores. 2 n = 60.
Sporulating summer--fall. Rocky slopes and ledges usually on igneous substrates; 300--2000 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; n Mexico.
The glabrous Cheilanthes wrightii is occasionally confused with C . alabamensis and certain species of Pellaea . Cheilanthes wrightii is easily separated from C . alabamensis by its glabrous rachis, which is grooved on the adaxial surface. It is distinguished from all local members of Pellaea by having both a grooved rachis and a thin, long-creeping stem.
General: Stems long-creeping, 1-3 mm in diameter, scales uniformly brown or slightly darker at base, linear-lanceolate, straight to slightly contorted, loosely appressed, often deciduous on older portions of stem.
Leaves: Clustered to somewhat scattered, 4-25 cm, circinate vernation; brown petiole, grooved above; blade lanceolate to ovate-deltate, twice pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 1-4 cm wide, rachis grooved above, not scaly or pubescent; pinnate not articulate, dark color of stalk continuing into pinna base, basal pair often slightly larger than adjacent pair, more or less equilateral, appearing glabrous above; costae green above for most of length; scales absent below; ultimate segments oblong to linear, not beadlike, largest 3-7 mm, glabrous on both sides.
Sporangia: False indusia marginal, slightly differentiated, 0.025-0.25 mm wide; sori discontinuous, concentrated on interrupted lateral lobes.
Ecology: Found on rocky slopes and ledges usually on igneous substrates from 1,000-6,500 ft (305-1981 m); sporulating summer-fall.
Notes: Distinguished by the grooved and glabrous rachis and the glabrous pinnae (on both sides), which lack costal scales.
Etymology: Cheilanthes is from Greek cheilos for lip and anthos for flower, while wrightii is named for Charles Wright (1811-1885) an American botanical collector.
Sources: FNA 1993, Yarborough and Powell 2002
Common Name: Wright's lipfern
General: Stems long-creeping, 1-3 mm in diameter, scales uniformly brown or slightly darker at base, linear-lanceolate, straight to slightly contorted, loosely appressed, often deciduous on older portions of stem.
Leaves: Clustered to somewhat scattered, 4-25 cm, circinate vernation; brown petiole, grooved above; blade lanceolate to ovate-deltate, twice pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 1-4 cm wide, rachis grooved above, not scaly or pubescent; pinnate not articulate, dark color of stalk continuing into pinna base, basal pair often slightly larger than adjacent pair, more or less equilateral, appearing glabrous above; costae green above for most of length; scales absent below; ultimate segments oblong to linear, not beadlike, largest 3-7 mm, glabrous on both sides.
Sporangia: False indusia marginal, slightly differentiated, 0.025-0.25 mm wide; sori discontinuous, concentrated on interrupted lateral lobes.
Ecology: Found on rocky slopes and ledges usually on igneous substrates from 1,000-6,500 ft (305-1981 m); sporulating summer-fall.
Notes: Distinguished by resembling divided herbaceous leaves rather than fern fronds, compared with other ferns; the grooved and glabrous rachis; and the glabrous pinnae (on both sides), which lack scales down the main axis.
Ethnobotany: Unknown
Etymology: Cheilanthes is from Greek cheilos for lip and anthos for flower, while wrightii is named for Charles Wright (1811-1885) an American botanical collector.
Synonyms: None
Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015
