Cheilanthes nudiuscula

Pteridaceae

Cheilanthes nudiuscula (R.Br.) T.Moore

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/62413

Fronds to 36 cm long and 5 cm wide; stipe dark red-brown, glabrous or with sparse, short, stiff hairs (1–4 cells) and very sparse scales; rachis with sparse to moderately dense hairs (usually short, occasionally to 14 cells) and sparse scales. Lamina elliptic or lanceolate, 2–3-pinnate at base, 2-pinnatifid for most of length; larger pinnae triangular-ovate; pinnules oblong or triangular; margins entire or lobed; upper surface with sparse, slender, short to medium hairs (1–4 cells), densest at the margins, or occasionally glabrous; lower surface with sparse to dense, longer hairs (0.5–1 mm). Spores spherical, granulose and ridged, with varying amounts of echinate ornamentation, 40–64 µm diam., 16 per sporangium.

Tropical and subtropical QLD, NT and WA,  in coastal and inland areas.

Terrestrial on steep rocky hillsides or in soil pockets or cracks in rocks on exposed cliffs and rock domes. Often in open woodland near a creek or gorge or exposed rock headlands, rarely on exposed tors in rainforest.

As for Cheilanthes brownii.

Similar to Cheilanthes brownii but much less hairy.