Argyrochosma microphylla
Argyrochosma jonesii
small-leaf false cloak fern
Jones' false cloak-fern, Jones' lipfern
scales brown.
scales brown to nearly black.
7–25 cm.
4–15 cm.
brown, 0.75–1.5 mm diam.
dark brown, 0.75–1.5 mm diam.
deltate to ovate, 3–4-pinnate proximally, leathery, abaxially and adaxially glabrous;
rachis flattened or shallowly grooved adaxially.
ovate-lanceolate, 2–3-pinnate proximally, leathery, abaxially and adaxially glabrous;
rachis rounded to slightly flattened adaxially.
articulate, dark color of stalks stopping abruptly at segment bases;
segment margins recurved to revolute, often concealing sporangia;
veins obscure adaxially.
not articulate, dark color of stalks continuing into segment bases abaxially;
segment margins plane to slightly recurved, not concealing sporangia;
veins obscure adaxially.
submarginal, borne on distal 1/3 of secondary veins, containing 64 spores.
submarginal, borne on distal 1/2 of secondary veins, containing 64 spores.
costae straight to somewhat flexuous, branches rarely arising from prominent angles.
costae straight or nearly so, branches not arising from prominent angles.
= 54.
= 54, 108.
Argyrochosma microphylla
Argyrochosma jonesii
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 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.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
CA
