Argyrochosma jonesii
Argyrochosma dealbata
Jones' false cloak-fern, Jones' lipfern
powdery false cloak fern
scales brown to nearly black.
scales brown.
4–15 cm.
3–15 cm.
dark brown, 0.75–1.5 mm diam.
chestnut brown, 0.50–0.75 mm diam.
ovate-lanceolate, 2–3-pinnate proximally, leathery, abaxially and adaxially glabrous;
rachis rounded to slightly flattened adaxially.
deltate, 3–5-pinnate proximally, somewhat herbaceous, abaxially covered by whitish farina, adaxially glabrous or sparsely glandular;
rachis rounded to slightly flattened adaxially.
not articulate, dark color of stalks continuing into segment bases abaxially;
segment margins plane to slightly recurved, not concealing sporangia;
veins obscure adaxially.
not articulate, dark color of stalks continuing into segment bases abaxially;
segment margins recurved, often partially concealing sporangia;
veins often visible adaxially.
submarginal, borne on distal 1/2 of secondary veins, containing 64 spores.
submarginal, borne on distal 1/3 of secondary veins, containing 64 spores.
costae straight or nearly so, branches not arising from prominent angles.
costae straight or nearly so, branches not arising from prominent angles.
= 54, 108.
= 54.
Argyrochosma jonesii
Argyrochosma dealbata
Argyrochosma jonesii includes two sexually reproducing cytotypes. The diploid is known from a few localities in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts; the tetraploid is found throughout the Mojave Desert and cismontane southern California. Although subtle morphologic differences exist between these cytotypes, they are distinguished primarily by characteristics known to correlate with increases in ploidy level (such as spore size and the length of stomatal guard cells). Further investigation is necessary to determine whether the tetraploid arose through autopolyploidy or hybridization between cryptic species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The distinctions between Argyrochosma dealbata and A. limitanea are subtle but apparently absolute. Although both occur in Texas, their ranges do not overlap. Despite the morphologic similarities, isozyme analyses indicate that A. dealbata, a diploid species, was not involved in the origin of polyploid A. limitanea.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
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