Common name: Rock Fern
Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia H.M.Quirk & T.C.Chambers APNI* 
Description: Rhizome creeping, often branched, covered with lanceolate, entire scales.
Fronds crowded, mostly 15–30 cm high, 3–10 cm wide at the widest point; stipe red-brown, dark brown or black, covered densely at the base with transparent scales; lamina lanceolate to triangular, 2–3-pinnate, glabrous above, lower surface glabrous or with sparse scales and hairs densest along midrib; ultimate segments sessile, 2–6 mm long and 1–3 mm wide, with crenate margins.
Sori usually remaining discrete.
Distribution and occurrence: in rocky ground in open forest or on exposed rocky slopes; aerial portion dies back in summer and new fronds grow in autumn.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, SWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
Some species are suspected of being toxic to stock.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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