General: Parry's Lipferns (Cheilanthes parryi) are small ferns that grow in dry places. Parry's Lipfern has dark petioles and hairy leaflets that become whitish above and tan to reddish under.

Parry's Lipfern is an uncommon component of desert vegetation communities in rocky areas on dry hillsides in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. This fern usually is found in dry, shady places in rock crevices and under boulders on open, rocky hillsides in the full sun. This fern is not usually associated with water.

Family: Brake (Pteridaceae).

Other Names:

Plant Form: Upright fern in rock crevices or prostrate under the edge of rocks.

Height: To about 6 inches.

Stems: Petiole brown to black.

Leaves: Hairy; whitish above, tan to reddish under; 2 to 6 inches long, 1 inch wide. Leaflets small, rounded, flat, hairs very dense on both surfaces.

Habitat: Dry, shady places in rock crevices and under boulders on open, rocky hillsides; sometimes in full sun. This fern is not usually associated with water.

Elevation: 300 to 5,000 feet.

Distribution: California to Utah and Arizona, and south into Baja California

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