Cheilanthes lanosa

Description

This south eastern native species is a dry land fern that prefers a loose, gritty rock garden setting and partial or full sun. It’s short creeping rhizome produces stipes covered in hairs that help regulate heat and collects moister. On the fronds that are fertile the sori are protected by false indusia formed at the edge of the leaf curling over on the underside. The common name, “hairy lip fern”, comes from the location of the sporangia at the edge or lip of the leaf, “hairy” refers to the presence of hairs.