Recent studies examining the evolutionary relationships of species assigned to Cheilanthes (Pteridaceae) reveal that the genus is highly polyphyletic. To achieve a monophyletic generic classification of the 400 taxa of cheilanthoid ferns, it is necessary to transfer species that are only distantly related to the type species (Cheilanthes micropteris) to other genera. One of these species is Cheilanthes villosa Davenp. ex Maxon, which needs to be reassigned to the genus Myriopteris. Because the epithet villosa is preoccupied in Myriopteris and there are no synonyms for this distinctive taxon, a new name is required. The species is herein renamed Myriopteris windhamii.