Slender lip fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender lip fern |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Myriopteris
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| Species: |
gracilis
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The Myriopteris gracilis, also known as the slender lip fern, is a type of fern. It used to be called Cheilanthes feei. This fern grows in many parts of western North America. You can find it from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, all the way down to northern Mexico. It also grows across much of the central United States.
Where Does the Slender Lip Fern Live?
This fern loves to grow in rocky places. It especially likes rocks that contain calcium carbonate, like limestone. You will often see it growing in small cracks and spaces within these rocks.
What Does the Slender Lip Fern Look Like?
The slender lip fern has leaves that can be gray or light green. These leaves can grow up to 18 to 20 centimeters long and about 3 centimeters wide. Each main leaf is made up of smaller parts called leaflets. These leaflets are further divided into even smaller, rounded sections.
If you look at the underside of these small sections, you'll see they are curved inwards. They are also covered with a lot of tiny hairs. The fern's sori are special spots where spores are made. These sori are found along the edges of the underside of the leaf segments. Sometimes, they might even be hidden under the fern's fuzzy hairs!
How Does the Slender Lip Fern Reproduce?
This fern has an interesting way of making new plants. It reproduces without needing two parent plants. This process is called apogamy. It means the fern can create new plants from its own cells, without the usual process of fertilization.
