''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes exce ...

s with a

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The extr ...

in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and evergreen. The leaves, often densely covered in

trichome Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a p ...

s, spring directly from the rootstocks. Many of them are desert ferns, curling up during dry times and reviving with the coming of moisture. At the ends of veins

sporangia A sporangium (; from Late Latin, ) is an enclosure in which spores are formed. It can be composed of a single cell or can be multicellular. Virtually all plants, fungi, and many other lineages form sporangia at some point in their life cy ...

, or spore-bearing structures, are protected by leaf margins, which curl over them.

Taxonomy

The genus name is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

words χεῖλος (''cheilos''), meaning "lip," and ἄνθος (''anthos''), meaning "flower." ''Cheilanthes'' as traditionally circumscribed is now known to be highly paraphyletic, comprising at least four generically separate groups. The type species, '' C. micropteris'', is most closely allied to the genera ''

Aleuritopteris ''Aleuritopteris'' is a genus of ferns in the Cheilanthoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae. As with some other genera of the Cheilanthoideae, molecular phylogenetic studies have suggested that it is not monophyletic, and so may need to be circ ...

'' and '' Sinopteris'' (Schuettpelz ''et al.''). In the early 21st century, many species, principally from the New World, were moved into the new genus ''

Gaga Gaga ( he, גע גע literally 'touch touch') (also: ga-ga, gaga ball, or ga-ga ball) is a variant of dodgeball that is played in a gaga "pit". The game combines dodging, striking, running, and jumping, with the objective of being the last perso ...

'' and the revived genus ''

Myriopteris ''Myriopteris'', commonly known as the lip ferns, is a genus of cheilanthoid ferns. Like other cheilanthoids, they are ferns of dry habitats, reproducing both sexually and apogamously. Many species have leaves divided into a large number of small ...

''. Further work remains to be done to render ''Cheilanthes'' monophyletic. Members of many other

cheilanthoid Cheilanthoideae is one of the five subfamilies of the fern family Pteridaceae. The subfamily is thought to be monophyletic, but some of the genera into which it has been divided are not, and the taxonomic status of many of its genera and species ...

genera have at times been given names in the genus.

Species

The

circumscription Circumscription may refer to: *Circumscribed circle * Circumscription (logic) *Circumscription (taxonomy) *Circumscription theory, a theory about the origins of the political state in the history of human evolution proposed by the American anthrop ...

of the genus was uncertain . The ''Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World'' lists species in several distinct groups. ''Cheilanthes''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

contains about 20 species from North and tropical Central and South America: *'' Cheilanthes arequipensis'' (Maxon) R.M.Tryon & A.F.Tryon *'' Cheilanthes fractifera'' Tryon *''

Cheilanthes glutinosa ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' M.Kessler & A.R.Sm. *'' Cheilanthes incarum'' Maxon *'' Cheilanthes incisa'' Kunze ex Mett. *'' Cheilanthes juergensii'' Rosenst. *''

Cheilanthes laciniata ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Sodiro *''

Cheilanthes leonardii ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and ever ...

'' Maxon *''

Cheilanthes leucopoda ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Link *''

Cheilanthes lonchophylla ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' (R.M.Tryon) R.M.Tryon & A.F.Tryon *''

Cheilanthes macleanii ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' (J.Sm.) Hook. *''

Cheilanthes mathewsii ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Kunze *'' Cheilanthes micropteris'' Sw. *''

Cheilanthes pantanalensis ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' E.L.M.Assis, Ponce & Labiak *''

Cheilanthes peruviana ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' (Desv.) Moore *''

Cheilanthes poeppigiana ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Mett. ex Kuhn *''

Cheilanthes rufopunctata ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and ever ...

'' Rosenst. *'' Cheilanthes sarmientoi'' Ponce *'' Cheilanthes spiculata'' Mickel *'' Cheilanthes squamosa'' Gill. ex Hook. & Grev. *'' Cheilanthes volcanensis'' de la Sota ''Cheilanthes''

sensu lato ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

contains about 50 species that

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies suggest do not form a

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English ter ...

with the core ''Cheilanthes'' species, falling into separate clades, but for which no placement outside ''Cheilanthes'' was available : *'' Cheilanthes adiantoides'' T.C.Chambers & P.A.Farrant *'' Cheilanthes angustifrondosa'' Alston *'' Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia'' H.M.Quirk & T.C.Chambers *'' Cheilanthes bergiana'' Schltdl. *'' Cheilanthes boivinii'' Mett. ex Kuhn *'' Cheilanthes bolborrhiza'' Mickel & Beitel *'' Cheilanthes bonapartei'' J.P.Roux *''

Cheilanthes botswanae ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Schelpe & N.C.Anthony *'' Cheilanthes brownii'' (Desv.) Domin *'' Cheilanthes buchananii'' (Baker) Domin *'' Cheilanthes capensis'' (Thunb.) Sw. *'' Cheilanthes caudata'' R.Br. *'' Cheilanthes ceterachoides'' A.W.Klopper & Klopper *''

Cheilanthes contracta ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Kunze *''

Cheilanthes deboeri ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Verdc. *'' Cheilanthes deltoidea'' Kunze *''

Cheilanthes depauperata ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and ever ...

'' Baker *'' Cheilanthes dinteri'' Brause *'' Cheilanthes distans'' (R.Br.) Mett. *'' Cheilanthes dolomiticola'' (Schelpe) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony *'' Cheilanthes eckloniana'' (Kunze) Mett. *'' Cheilanthes erythraea'' Pic. Serm. *'' Cheilanthes fragillima'' F.Muell. *'' Cheilanthes hastata'' (L. fil.) Kunze *'' Cheilanthes hirta'' Sw. *'' Cheilanthes inaequalis'' (Kunze) Mett. *'' Cheilanthes induta'' Kunze *'' Cheilanthes involuta'' (Sw.) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony *''

Cheilanthes kunzei ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Mett. *'' Cheilanthes lasiophylla'' Pic. Serm. *'' Cheilanthes leachii'' (Schelpe) Schelpe *'' Cheilanthes lozanoi'' (Maxon) R.M.Tryon & A.F.Tryon *'' Cheilanthes madagascariensis'' Baker *'' Cheilanthes marlothii'' (Hieron.) Schelpe *''

Cheilanthes muelleri ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' (Hook.) comb. ined. *'' Cheilanthes multifida'' (Sw.) Sw. *'' Cheilanthes namaquensis'' (Baker) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony *'' Cheilanthes nielsii'' W.Jacobsen *'' Cheilanthes nitida'' (R.Br.) P.S.Green *'' Cheilanthes parviloba'' (Sw.) Sw. *'' Cheilanthes pentagona'' Schelpe & N.C.Anthony *'' Cheilanthes perlanata'' (Pic. Serm.) Kornas *'' Cheilanthes perrieri'' J.P.Roux *'' Cheilanthes praetermissa'' D.L.Jones *''

Cheilanthes prenticei ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Luerss. *''

Cheilanthes pumilio ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' (R.Br.) F.Muell. *'' Cheilanthes quadripinnata'' (Forsk.) Kuhn *'' Cheilanthes reynoldsii'' (F.Muell.) comb. ined. *''

Cheilanthes robusta ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' (Kunze) Tryon *''

Cheilanthes sieberi ''Cheilanthes sieberi'' is a small fern growing in many parts of Australia, New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and t ...

'' Kunze *''

Cheilanthes similis ''Cheilanthes'', commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and eve ...

'' Ballard *'' Cheilanthes skinneri'' (Hook.) R.M.Tryon & A.F.Tryon

References

Flora Europaea: ''Cheilanthes''Flora of North America: ''Cheilanthes''

lip fern
" Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 30 Nov 2007. {{Taxonbar, from=Q2628740 Fern genera Taxa named by Olof Swartz