keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

370 PTERIDACEAE/ASTROLEPIS
1. Abaxial (= lower) surfaces of leaf blades obscured by a covering of a whitish powdery material
(= farina); ultimate leaf segments not articulate (the dark brown color of the segment stalks
continuing into the segment bases on the abaxial side) __________________________________ A. dealbata
1. Abaxial surfaces of leaf blades without whitish covering; ultimate leaf segments articulate (the
dark brown color of the segment stalks ending abruptly at the segment bases) ____________ A. microphylla
Argyrochosma dealbata (Pursh) Windham, (white-washed), POWDERY FALSE CLOAK FERN, POW-
DERY CLOAK FERN, FALSE CLOAK FERN. Leaves to only ca. 15 cm long, evergreen; leaf blades 3–5pinnate,
less divided distally, somewhat herbaceous, the adaxial (= upper) surface bluish green,
glabrous, the abaxial (= lower) surface with very conspicuous whitish powdery material. Crevices
of limestone and other calcareous rocks; Bell (TAES), Travis (BRIT), Comal, Hays (Turner et
al. 2003), and Ellis (Correll 1956) cos. near w margin of East TX; mainly Cross Timbers and
Prairies and e Edwards Plateau; AR, IL, KS, KY, MO, NE, OK, and TX. Sporulating summer–fall.
[Cheilanthes dealbata Pursh, Notholaena dealbata (Pursh) Kunze, Pellaea dealbata (Pursh)
Prantl]
Argyrochosma microphylla (Mett. ex Kuhn) Windham, (small-leaved), SMALL-LEAF FALSE CLOAK
FERN, SMALL-LEAF CLOAK FERN. Leaves 7–25 cm long; leaf blades 3–4-pinnate basally, 2-pinnate
distally, leathery, glabrous on both surfaces, often glaucous. Limestone hillsides and cliffs;
mainly occurring in Trans-Pecos and the Edwards Plateau, this species is reported as disjunct in
East TX in Brazos Co. (Correll 1956); NM and TX. Sporulating summer–fall. [Pellaea
microphylla (Mettenius ex Kuhn) Windham, Cheilanthes parvifolia (R.M. Tryon) Mickel,
Notholaena parvifolia R.M. Tryon] It is easily distinguished from A. dealbata by the lack of
whitish powdery material on the abaxial leaf surfaces. Reported to be poisonous to sheep
(Correll 1956). �
ASTROLEPIS D.M. Benham & Windham
STAR-SCALED CLOAK FERN, SCALY CLOAK FERN
Plants usually on rocks; stems (rhizomes) compact to short-creeping; leaves monomorphic, evergreen,
clustered, 1-pinnate to 1-pinnate-pinnatifid, the abaxial (= lower) leaf surfaces with
ciliate scales and usually underlying layer of stellate scales concealing the surface, the upper
surfaces sparsely to densely covered with stellate or coarsely ciliate scales to glabrescent with
age; sporangia marginal or nearly so, forming a � continuous band; false indusium absent.
AA New World genus of ca. 8 species (Benham & Windham 1993). The taxa treated here as
Astrolepis have been previously lumped into various genera including Notholaena or
Cheilanthes. Benham and Windham (1992) indicated that these and several related species are
a monophyletic group worthy of recognition as the genus Astrolepis. (Greek: astro, star, and
lepis, scale, in reference to the star-like scales on the adaxial surfaces of the leaf blades)
REFERENCES: Tryon 1956; Benham & Windham 1992, 1993; Carlquist & Schneider 1997.
1. Upper (= adaxial) leaf surfaces densely scaly, particularly near margins, the scales usually persistent,
the body of the scales 5–7 cells wide; largest pinnae entire or slightly lobed ___________ A. integerrima
1. Upper leaf surfaces only sparsely scaly to glabrescent, most scales deciduous with age, the body
of the scales 1–2 cells wide; largest pinnae often conspicuously lobed ________________________ A. sinuata
Astrolepis integerrima (Hook.) D.M. Benham & Windham, (very entire), SOUTHWESTERN CLOAK
FERN. Leaves 8–45 cm long; largest pinnae usually 7–15 mm long, entire or asymmetrically and
shallowly lobed. Rocky slopes, outcrops, or cliffs, usually limestone or other calcareous substrates.
Bexar and Comal (Turner et al. 2003) cos. on w margin of East TX; primarily w 1/2 of
TX; mostly sw U.S. (AZ, NM, NV, OK, and TX), also reported from AL (Kartesz 1999). Sporulating
summer–fall. [Cheilanthes integerrima (Hook.) Mickel, Notholaena integerrima (Hook.)
Hevly, Notholaena sinuata (Lag. ex Sw.) Kaulf. var. integerrima Hook.]