Myriopteris viscida


Myriopteris viscida, formerly known as Cheilanthes viscida, is a species of lip fern known by the common names viscid lip fern and viscid lace fern.
It is native to southern California, at elevations of. It is an uncommon member of the flora in rocky areas of the higher Mojave Desert mountains, and in the ecotone of the Peninsular Ranges and the Colorado Desert. Its distribution extends into northern Baja California.

Description

This fern produces frilly leaves up to about 30 centimeters long, each divided into segments which are subdivided, the ultimate segments just a few millimeters long and widely lance-shaped to oblong. The leaf segments bear resin glands which exude a very sticky, clear fluid.
The leaves are also somewhat hairy. The leaf segments have curled edges along which are located the sori with their brown sporangia.

Etymology

Members of the genus Cheilanthes as historically defined are commonly known as "lip ferns" due to the lip-like indusium formed by the leaf margins curling over the sori. The common name viscid lip fern refers to the sticky glands on the underside of the leaf described by the epithet.