Texas lip fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texas lip fern |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myriopteris
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| Species: |
aemula
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The Texas lip fern (Myriopteris aemula) is a medium-sized fern found in Texas and Mexico. It's part of the Pteridaceae plant family. Unlike many ferns in its group, its leaves might have a few hairs or none at all. For a long time, it was known as Cheilanthes aemula. But in 2013, scientists decided to put it back into its own group, Myriopteris. This fern usually grows on limestone rocks.
Contents
What the Texas Lip Fern Looks Like
The Texas lip fern grows from a rhizome, which is like an underground stem. This rhizome has scales that are flat or slightly twisted. These scales are usually brown or tan.
The fern's leaves, called fronds, grow in bunches. They don't unroll like typical fern fiddleheads. When fully grown, the fronds can be about 10 to 55 centimeters (4 to 22 inches) long and 4 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) wide. The stipe, which is the stalk part of the leaf, is dark brown or black. It can be smooth or have a few tiny hairs.
The main part of the leaf, called the blade, is often shaped like a triangle or an egg. It's usually divided into many smaller parts. The main stem of the leaf (the rachis) has small, twisted hairs. The smaller leaf parts, called pinnae, are not connected by a joint. The lowest pinnae on the leaf are a bit larger than the ones above them.
The tiny leaf sections, called pinnulets, are shaped like an ellipse or a long triangle. They are not round like beads, which helps tell this fern apart from others. These pinnulets can have a few soft, white hairs or no hairs at all.
On fertile fronds, the fern produces sori, which are groups of spore cases. These sori are protected by the curled-back edge of the leaf, called a false indusium. Each spore case (sporangium) holds 64 tan spores. The fern plants are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes.
How the Texas Lip Fern Got Its Name
William Ralph Maxon first described this fern in 1908. He named it Cheilanthes aemula. He found it in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. He noticed it was different from another fern, Cheilanthes microphylla, because its leaves were more divided and triangular. The word aemula means "rivalling" or "emulating." This name likely refers to how it seemed to "rival" the C. microphylla growing nearby.
Later, scientists used new methods to study fern relationships. They found that many ferns grouped under Cheilanthes were not actually closely related. This is because different ferns can look similar if they grow in similar dry places.
Because of this, in 2013, scientists Amanda Grusz and Michael D. Windham brought back the name Myriopteris for a group of ferns, including C. aemula. So, its name became Myriopteris aemula.
In 2018, another scientist, Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, moved the species to the genus Hemionitis, calling it H. aemula. This was part of a plan to group many similar ferns together.
The common name "lip fern" comes from where the spore cases are located. They are often found at the edge, or "lip," of the leaf. This species is also called "rival lip fern" or "Texas lip fern."
Where the Texas Lip Fern Lives
The Texas lip fern is found in a few places in southern Texas, including the Trans-Pecos region. It also grows throughout Mexico, especially in the eastern and central parts, reaching as far south as Chiapas.
This fern likes to grow on limestone rock. You can find it on rocky slopes, ledges, and in cracks in the rocks. It grows at elevations from about 100 to 1,800 meters (330 to 5,900 feet) above sea level.
Conservation Status
The Texas lip fern is considered "globally secure" (G4) by NatureServe. This means it's generally common and widespread. However, in Texas, it is considered "vulnerable." This means it might be at risk in that specific state.
See also
In Spanish: Myriopteris aemula para niños
