General: Stems long-creeping, 1-3 mm in diameter, scales uniformly brown or slightly darker at base, linear-lanceolate, straight to slightly contorted, loosely appressed, often deciduous on older portions of stem. Leaves: Clustered to somewhat scattered, 4-25 cm, circinate vernation; brown petiole, grooved above; blade lanceolate to ovate-deltate, twice pinnate-pinnatifid at base, 1-4 cm wide, rachis grooved above, not scaly or pubescent; pinnate not articulate, dark color of stalk continuing into pinna base, basal pair often slightly larger than adjacent pair, more or less equilateral, appearing glabrous above; costae green above for most of length; scales absent below; ultimate segments oblong to linear, not beadlike, largest 3-7 mm, glabrous on both sides. Sporangia: False indusia marginal, slightly differentiated, 0.025-0.25 mm wide; sori discontinuous, concentrated on interrupted lateral lobes. Ecology: Found on rocky slopes and ledges usually on igneous substrates from 1,000-6,500 ft (305-1981 m); sporulating summer-fall. Notes: Distinguished by the grooved and glabrous rachis and the glabrous pinnae (on both sides), which lack costal scales. Etymology: Cheilanthes is from Greek cheilos for lip and anthos for flower, while wrightii is named for Charles Wright (1811-1885) an American botanical collector.

Santa Catalina Mountains
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.
Location: Tram Road before first bridge.
1/17/17

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