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small-leaf false cloak fern

Stem

scales brown.

Leaves

7–25 cm.

Petiole

brown, 0.75–1.5 mm diam.

Blade

deltate to ovate, 3–4-pinnate proximally, leathery, abaxially and adaxially glabrous;

rachis flattened or shallowly grooved adaxially.

Ultimate segments

articulate, dark color of stalks stopping abruptly at segment bases;

segment margins recurved to revolute, often concealing sporangia;

veins obscure adaxially.

Sporangia

submarginal, borne on distal 1/3 of secondary veins, containing 64 spores.

Pinna

costae straight to somewhat flexuous, branches rarely arising from prominent angles.

2n

= 54.

Argyrochosma microphylla

Phenology Sporulating summer–fall.
Habitat Rocky limestone hillsides and cliffs
Elevation 300–2100 m (1000–6900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
NM; TX; n Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Argyrochosma microphylla is probably the most distinctive species of Argyrochosma in the flora. Chromosome studies by I. W. Knobloch et al. (1973) suggest that it may include diploid and tetraploid cytotypes.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Pteridaceae > Argyrochosma
Sibling taxa
A. dealbata, A. fendleri, A. incana, A. jonesii, A. limitanea
Synonyms Pellaea microphylla, Cheilanthes parvifolia, Notholaena parvifolia
Name authority (Mettenius ex Kuhn) Windham: Amer. Fern J. 77: 40. (1987)
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