Cleveland's Lipfern

The rhizomes are horizontal and range from 1 to 3 millimeters (0.04 to 0.1 in) in diameter. The leaves are closely or broadly spaced along them. The rhizome bears persistent linear-lanceolate scales, which are dark brown or brown to red-brown in color and shiny. The scales may be of a uniform brown color, or bear a dark central stripe with paler edges. The margins of the scales are entire or erose to slightly toothed with teeth well-spaced. The scales are straight or slightly twisted and strongly appressed (pressed against the rhizome). The fronds arise from the rhizome in clusters or as somewhat scattered individual leaves. Unlike many ferns, they do not emerge as coiled fiddleheads (noncircinate vernation). When mature, they are 8 to 40 centimeters (3 to 20 in) long. The stipe (the stalk of the leaf below the blade) makes up about half the length of the frond, measuring 5 to 31 centimeters (2.0 to 12 in) long. The stipe is shiny, rounded, and dark to light brown, covered with 1-to-2-millimeter (0.04 to 0.08 in)-long hairs and filiform (threadlike) scales that are gray to red-brown in color. The covering is lost as the frond ages. The stipe is typically less than 2 millimeters (0.08 in) wide, sometimes up to 3 millimeters (0.1 in). The leaf blades are oblong-lanceolate to ovate and tetrapinnate (cut into pinnae, pinnules, pinnulets, and divisions of pinnulets) at the base. …

The fern is native to southern California, specifically the Peninsular Ranges and several of the northern Channel Islands, and to northern Baja California, Mexico. It is found in a variety of rocky, exposed habitats, including chaparral, on slopes and ledges, or at the bases of boulders and in crevices. It usually prefers igneous rocks. It is found from 0 to 1,600 meters (0.0 to 5,200 ft) in elevation.

Myriopteris clevelandii is classified as globally vulnerable (G3) by NatureServe. It faces few distinct threats, but its natural range is limited.