SafePlants

Lace Lip Fern (Cheilanthes gracillima)

The Lace Lip Fern, scientifically known as Cheilanthes gracillima, is a delicate and resilient fern native to western North America.

Common Names

• Lace Lip Fern
• Lace Lipfern

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cheilanthes gracillima D.C. Eaton
• Family: Pteridaceae (as indicated by a tag in the source text)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms:
  • Myriopteris gracillima (D.C. Eaton) J. Smith
  • Cheilanthes gracillima D.C. Eaton var. aberrans M.E. Jones
• Other Cheilanthes species mentioned:
  • Cheilanthes guanchica Bolle
  • Cheilanthes intertexta (Maxon) Maxon &#8211 Coastal lip fern
  • Cheilanthes feei, Slender Lipfern
  • Cheilanthes newberryi, Newberry's Lipfern
  • Cheilanthes covillei Maxon &#8211 Coville's lipfern, Coville's lip fern
  • Cheilanthes hispanica Mett.
  • Cheilanthes horridula Maxon &#8211 Rough lip fern
  • Cheilanthes aemula Maxon - Rival Lipfern
  • Cheilanthes fragillima F.Muell.
  • Cheilanthes glauca (Cav.) Mett.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to western North America.
• Common on rocks from British Columbia to southern California and inland to Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
• Favors rocky outcroppings.
• Grows in rocky habitats.
• Found in places such as a rocky outcrop above Washington Highway 14 at T3N R18E S14 in the southern part of the Goodnoe Hills.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Forb/herb: a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
• Perennial.
• Rhizomatous fern (California Lace Fern).
• Height to 20cm.
• Evergreen.
• True chasmophyte, saxicolous, and xerically adapted.

Ecological Role

• Adapted to withstand full sun exposures and dry summer conditions.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Known Pests and Problems for Lace Lipfern Cheilanthes gracillima.

Further Information

• Montana Field Guide (for photo submission).
• USDA Plants Database.
• Discover Life.
• Wikimedia Commons.
• Dave's Garden.