Cheilanthes clevelandii D.C. Eaton:
United States (North America)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Global Range: This species occurs in the coastal mountains of southwest California and Baja Mexico, as well as the northern Channel Islands of California.

Although some specimens of Cheilanthes clevelandii can be difficult to distinguish from C . covillei and C . intertexta (see comments under C . covillei ), the species is restricted to the coastal mountains of California and Baja California, and it rarely overlaps the ranges of these closely related species. In the region where C. clevelandii is sympatric with C. intertexta , the smaller spores of the former species (averaging less that 55 µm in diameter) are helpful in identification. T. Reeves (1979) tentatively identified two varieties of C . clevelandii , but formal recognition of these taxa must await further study.

Stems usually short-creeping, 1--3 mm diam.; scales usually bicolored, with well-defined, dark, central stripe and broad, light brown margins, lanceolate, straight to slightly contorted, strongly appressed, persistent. Leaves clustered to somewhat scattered, 8--40 cm; vernation noncircinate. Petiole dark to light brown, rounded adaxially. Blade oblong-lanceolate to ovate, usually 4-pinnate at base, 2--8 cm wide; rachis rounded adaxially, with scattered scales and sparse monomorphic pubescence. Pinnae not articulate, dark color of stalk continuing into pinna base, basal pair not conspicuously larger than adjacent pair, usually equilateral, appearing glabrous adaxially. Costae green adaxially for most of length; abaxial scales multiseriate, ovate-lanceolate, deeply cordate at base, with overlapping basal lobes, conspicuous, 0.4--1 mm wide, imbricate, occasionally concealing ultimate segments, ciliate (usually only on proximal 1/2). Ultimate segments round to subcordate, beadlike, the largest 1--2 mm, abaxially with branched hairs and small ciliate scales, adaxially glabrous. False indusia marginal, weakly differentiated, 0.05--0.25 mm wide. Sori ± continuous around segment margins. Sporangia containing 64 spores.

Although some specimens of Cheilanthes clevelandii can be difficult to distinquish from C. covillei and C. intertexta, there is rarely a range overlap with these closely related species. Where C. clevelandii occurs with C. intertexta, the smaller spores of C. clevelandii separates the two species. Two varieties of C. clevelandii have been described but need further study (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993).

Type collection for Cheilanthes clevelandii D.C. Eaton
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Verified from the card file of type specimens
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): D. Cleveland
Locality: California, United States, North America

Sporulating late spring--summer. Rocky slopes and ledges, usually on igneous substrates; 0--1600 m; Calif.; Mexico in Baja, California.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 - 300

Comments: The number of distinct occurrences is unknown but there are 290 accession records in the Consortium of California Herbaria database as of August 2007, and many of these records were collected since 1970.

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

Rounded Global Status Rank: G3 - Vulnerable

Reasons: This xeric-adapted fern occurs in rocky exposed habitat at many locations in southwestern California.It appears to have few threats. Cheilanthes clevelandii also occurs in Baja, Mexico.