Kingdom Plantae Order Polypodiales Genus Cheilanthes Higher classification Cheilanthes | Division Pteridophyta Family Pteridaceae Scientific name Cheilanthes covillei Rank Species | |
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Similar Cheilanthes, Cheilanthes parryi, Cheilanthes clevelandii, Cheilanthes newberryi, Cheilanthes feei | ||
Cheilanthes covillei, reclassified as Myriopteris covillei, is a species of lip fern known by the common name Coville's lip fern.
This plant is native to California, Baja California, Arizona, Oregon, and Utah. It grows in rocky crevices in the mountains and foothills.
In California it is found in Chaparral, Yellow pine forest, Pinyon-juniper woodland, and Joshua tree woodland habitats.
Description
This fern has green leaves which may be up to 4-pinnate, that is, made up of leaflets that subdivide 3 times, such that the leaflets are layered with overlapping rounded segments. The leaves have a bumpy, cobbled look.
The undersides of the leaves have scales which are lengthened outgrowths of the epidermis. Tucked under the scales are the sporangia, which make the spores.