See text Cheilanthes, commonly known as lip ferns,[2] is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs.

At the ends of veins sporangia, or spore-bearing structures, are protected by leaf margins, which curl over them.

"[3] Cheilanthes as traditionally circumscribed is now known to be highly paraphyletic, comprising at least four generically separate groups.

The type species, C. micropteris, is most closely allied to the genera Aleuritopteris and Sinopteris (Schuettpelz et al.).

The Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World lists species in several distinct groups.