| Key to the species | |
1 | Fronds with lamina 3–10 cm wide at the widest point, glabrous above, sparsely covered with translucent scales below | Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia |
| Fronds with lamina usually <3 cm wide, glabrous or hairy | 2 |
2 | Fronds glabrous or almost so, stipe glabrous or with a very fine cover of hairs | Cheilanthes sieberi |
| Fronds with an indumentum of fine, white hairs above and scales below Back to 1 | 3 |
3 | Fronds with hairs on the upper surface of the lamina sparse and simple; stipe and lower surface of the lamina covered with scales only | Cheilanthes distans |
| Fronds with hairs on the upper surface of the lamina moderately dense to dense, stellate; stipe and lower surface of the lamina covered with scales and stellate hairs Back to 2 | Cheilanthes lasiophylla |