Myriopteris lendigera

Myriopteris lendigera
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Family:	Pteridaceae
Genus:	Myriopteris
Species:	M. lendigera
Binomial name
Myriopteris lendigera (Cav.) J.Sm.

Myriopteris lendigera is a species of cheilanthoid fern with the common name nit-bearing lip fern.

Description

Myriopteris lendigera grows from long creeping rhizomes 1–3 mm in diameter with dark brown scales. Leaves can be scattered or clustered and range in length from 5 to 30 cm. The petiole is usually dark brown. The leaf blade is ovate-deltate to oblong-lanceolate and usually 4-pinnate (subdivided 3 times) at the leaf base. The blade is 1.5 to 8 cm (0.6 to 3.1 in) wide. The ultimate leaflet segments are round to slightly oblong and appear beadlike, with a diameter of 1–3 mm. Their abaxial (lower) surface is sparsely to moderately pubescent with coarse hairs and the adaxial (upper) surface is glabrous. Each leaflet curls under at the edge to form a false indusim. The spore-bearing sori are usually continuous around segment margins.

Range and habitat

Myriopteris lendigera is native to mountains in central and northern Mexico, Central America, Arizona and Texas in the United States, and extends into northeastern South America. It grows on rocky slopes and ledges, usually on igneous substrates, at altitudes from 1,300 to 2,400 m (4,300 to 7,900 ft).

References

Media related to Myriopteris lendigera at Wikimedia Commons