Flora of North America species comparison

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Argyrochosma microphylla

Argyrochosma incana

small-leaf false cloak fern

hairy false cloak fern
Stem

scales brown.

scales brown.
Leaves

7–25 cm.

5–20 cm.
Petiole

brown, 0.75–1.5 mm diam.

black, 0.75–2 mm diam.
Blade

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

rachis flattened or shallowly grooved adaxially.

ovate, 3–4-pinnate proximally, leathery, abaxially covered by dense, white farina, adaxially glabrous;

rachis rounded to slightly flattened adaxially.
Ultimate segments

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

segment margins recurved to revolute, often concealing sporangia;

veins obscure adaxially.

articulate, dark color of stalks stopping abruptly at bases;

segment margins plane, never concealing sporangia;

veins obscure adaxially.
Sporangia

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

following secondary veins for most of length, containing 64 spores.
Pinna

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

costae straight or nearly so, branches not arising from prominent angles.
2n

= 54.

= 54.

Argyrochosma microphylla

Argyrochosma incana
Phenology Sporulating summer–fall. Sporulating summer–fall.
Habitat Rocky limestone hillsides and cliffs Sheltered cracks and ledges on canyon walls, restricted to rocks of volcanic origin in the flora
Elevation 300–2100 m (1000–6900 ft) 1200–1700 m (3900–5600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
NM; TX; n Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico; West Indies in Hispaniola; Central America in Guatemala
[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.)

Argyrochosma incana has been collected at about 10 localities in the flora area, all within 50 km of the Mexican border. Most herbarium specimens were previously identified as A. limitanea, which is easily distinguished from A. incana by the characteristics given in the key. In addition, all known plants of A. limitanea have 32 spores per sporangium; those of A. incana have 64. Although A. incana shows considerable morphologic and biochemical diversity in Mexico, populations in the United States are relatively uniform.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 2. FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Pteridaceae > Argyrochosma Pteridaceae > Argyrochosma
Sibling taxa
A. dealbata, A. fendleri, A. incana, A. jonesii, A. limitanea
A. dealbata, A. fendleri, A. jonesii, A. limitanea, A. microphylla
Synonyms Pellaea microphylla, Cheilanthes parvifolia, Notholaena parvifolia Notholaena incana
Name authority (Mettenius ex Kuhn) Windham: Amer. Fern J. 77: 40. (1987) (C. Presl) Windham: Amer. Fern J. 77: 40. (1987)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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