The fern genus Cheilanthes in Australia

Abstract

The fern genus Cheilanthes Sw. in Australia consists of 15 taxa. The range of variation of each species is discussed and the distribution presented in map form. Cheilanthes sieberi Kunze is recognized as having two subspecies, C. sieberi subsp. sieberi stat. nov, and C. sieberi subsp. pseudovellea Quirk & Chambers. Three long-overlooked species are now recognized and defined; they are C. nudiuscula (R.Br.) T. Moore, C. tenuissima Bailey and C. contigua Baker. Cheilanthes vellea (Aiton) F. Muell. is now recognized as C. brownii (R.Br.) Domin. The plant originally referred to as C. tenulfolia (Burm. f.) Sw. and previously regarded as extending from South-East Asia to the south coast of Australia is here recognized as two different species; the northern species extending from South-East Asia to northern Australia is regarded as C. tenuifolia (Burm. f.) Sw. s. str. and the isolated southern species as C. austrotenuifolia Quirk & Chambers.