Cheilanthes similis F. Ballard

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Alto-Chicapa, Angola

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Synonyms:	Cheilanthes heterophylla sensu Tardieu Hemionitis similis (F.Ballard) Christenh.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome c. 8 mm. in diameter, short, creeping; rhizome scales light-brown, very narrowly linear in outline, margin entire, concolorous, up to 10 × 1 mm. Fronds tufted, dimorphous, thinly coriaceous, the fertile more dissected and with longer stipes than in the sterile fronds. Stipe castaneous, up to 1.7 cm. in sterile fronds and 12–22 cm. in fertile fronds, thinly pubescent with pale hairs 1–2 mm. long. Sterile lamina up to 6.5 × 5.7 cm., triangular in outline, deeply pinnatifid above becoming pinnate at the base, the lowest pinnae with basiscopically developed lobes; pinna lobes oblong in outline, apex rounded to pointed, margin entire to crenate, thinly pilose on both surfaces with pale flexuous hairs; venation obscure. Fertile lamina up to 10.7 × 7.6 cm., triangular in outline, pinnate above to pinnatifid below, the lowest pinnae with basiscopically developed entire to sinuate lobes; middle pinnae pinnatifid into oblong to triangular obtuse entire lobes thinly pilose on both surfaces with pale flexuous hairs. Sori small, submarginal, discrete, developing into a soral line later; indusium membranous, hyaline, mostly continuous, longly ciliate.
Type location:
Notes:	This species is easily recognized by the strongly dimorphous fronds, with the fertile fronds taller and more divided.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	On dry rock slopes with grasses and few shrubs, in full sun or light shade, on shallow skeletal soils.
Altitude range: (metres)
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, southeastern DRCongo, Burundi, Tanzania and western Zambia.
Botanical divisions:	XI
Growth form(s):	Lithophyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Tuesday 10 March 2026
Literature:	Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 51 - 52. Malaisse, F., Scaijes, M. & D'Outreligne, C. (2016). Copper-Cobalt Flora of Upper Katanga and Copperbelt Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux Page 88. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 34. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 66. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 185. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 124. Verdcourt, B. (2002). Adiantaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 34.

Other sources of information about Cheilanthes similis:

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Flora of Burundi: Cheilanthes similis
Flora of Zambia: Cheilanthes similis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cheilanthes similis
African Plant Database: Cheilanthes similis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cheilanthes similis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cheilanthes similis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cheilanthes similis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cheilanthes similis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cheilanthes similis
JSTOR Plant Science: Cheilanthes similis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cheilanthes similis
Plants of the World Online: Cheilanthes similis
Tropicos: Cheilanthes similis
Wikipedia: Cheilanthes similis