Plants of
South Australia
Cheilanthes distans
Pteridaceae
Bristly Cloak-fern
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 2

Prior names

Notholaena distans

Etymology

Cheilanthes from the Greek 'cheilos' meaning a lip and 'anthos' meaning a flower, alluding to the lip-like indusium (thin membrane covering the sorus). Distans from Latin meaning distant, referring to the widely spaced female flowers.

Distribution and status

Found in the southern part of South Australia, growing in rock crevices or on open banks in mountain ranges and smaller hills in drier parts. Also found in all states except for the Northern Territory (and New Zealand and New Caledonia). Native. Common in South Australia. Rare in Tasmania. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Slow-creeping rhizomatous fern with red-brown or dark brown, hairy stems. Fronds clustered near tip of rhizome, stiffly erect, usually small, hairy. Lamina narrowly oblong, 2-pinnate, dull and dark green. Pinnae well separated along rachis with lower surface moderately to densely clad in pale, flat scales and upper surface with or without scattered, long, white hairs. Fruits are sori (spores) on the underside margins of the fronds between the lobes, protected by the recurved margins. Seeds very fine dark brown, spherical spores.

Seed collection and propagation

Look under the fronds and collect ones with spores and place in a seal paper bags to prevent spores from fulling out. Leave fronds in the paper bag to dry. The spores will fall off naturally or give the fronds a gentle shake. Use a very fine sieve to separate any unwanted material. Be careful as the spores are very fine. Store spores in an air tight container in a cool and dry place or in a -20oC freezer.