Desert Ferns Guide

Arizona Xerophytic Ferns: Identification Guide
Desert Ferns INTRODUCTION

New to desert ferns? Learn these common species first:
Pellaea truncata, Argyrochosma limitanea, Astrolepis cochisensis, Astrolepis sinuata,
Cheilanthes lindheimeri, Cheilanthes tomentosa, Cheilanthes parryi, Notholaena standleyi, Bommeria hispida.

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Family PTERIDACEAE: True Ferns
	PELLAEA Cliffbrakes Leaves grayish green to bluish green with dark wiry stems. Leaflets smooth, leathery, paler green underneath and without hair, scales, or white coating. Leaflets on fertile leaves are distinctly smaller than those on sterile leaves, with edges rolled under to cover spores. Lower part of leaf is usually bipinnate, tip is pinnate. Sun or part shade among granite boulders and outcrops. Some species are also found on limestone. SIMILAR GENERA: Argyrochosma has more crowded leaflets that have a white coating on the underside.
	Pellaea atropurpurea Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake Triangular leaf with purplish-black stem. Leaflets relatively few, long oval to blunt triangular. Sterile fronds are larger than fertile fronds. Widely distributed in the U.S. but uncommon. SIMILAR SPECIES: Other Pellaea have smaller, more uniform leaflets. P. lyngholmii (found only in central AZ) is a hybrid between P. atropurpurea and P. truncata.
	Pellaea intermedia Creeping Cliffbrake Triangular grayish green leaf with pale brown to gray stem. Leaflets flat, oval to nearly circular, without spines at tips. Partial shade on limestone or granite. SIMILAR SPECIES: Identify by round, coinlike leaflets and light-colored stem. Sterile leaves of P. truncata may look similar, but stems are dark and leaflets are typically more elongate and/or wavy-edged, with small spines at tips.
	Pellaea truncata Spiny Cliffbrake Leaves erect, tightly clustered, grayish green, triangular, tripinnate near base, pinnate near tip. The pinnate leaflets may be missing on older leaves, leaving the stem tip bare and giving the leaf a rectangular appearance. Leaflets oval, broad on sterile leaves and narrow on fertile leaves, with a tiny spine at the tip of each leaflet. Dried leaves are grayer, with tightly rolled leaflets that may droop slightly on the stem. Most common Pellaea in our area, and typical of sunny north-facing areas on granite and rhyolite tors. SIMILAR SPECIES: Identify by oval spine-tipped leaflets. P. intermedia has round leaflets without spines.
	Pellaea ternifolia Birdfoot Cliffbrake Long narrow leaf with dark stem. Leaflets narrow, shining dark green or bluish green, pinnate to bipinnate, at right angles to stem. or slightly drooping. Lower leaflets ternate (divided in three) and stalked. Dried leaves are brownish with drooping leaflets. Full sun on granite. Southeast corner of AZ. PHOTO: Pellaea ternifolia with Cheilanthes lindheimeri & Bommeria hispida. SIMILAR SPECIES: Larger than P. wrightiana, with more elongate leaflets. Other Pellaea lack ternate leaflets.
	Pellaea wrightiana Hybrid between P. ternifolia & P. truncata Smaller than P. ternifolia, with leaves variable in width but shorter and more obviously spine-tipped. Partial shade, granite and rhyolite. Widespread in AZ. SIMILAR SPECIES: Compare with P. ternifolia. Other Pellaea do not have ternate leaves.
	ARGYROCHOSMA Leaves smooth, hairless, triangular or ovate. Stems smooth or slightly downy, dark and wiry. Leaflets 2-5 pinnate; undersides have inrolled margins and a white waxy or mealy coating. Segments at tips of leaflets are stalked and entire. Sori are scattered in thin lines parallel to the edge of the leaflet. SIMILAR GENERA: Pellaea leaflets are green underneath, without a coating. In Notholaena, segments at tips of leaflets are stalkless and pinnatifid.
	Argyrochosma incana Small, lacy. Shady places at the base of granite or rhyolite boulders, Tumacacori/Atascosa/Pajarito Mts. SIMILAR SPECIES: A. limitanea has more crowded leaflets and is more widespread.
	Argyrochosma jonesii Leaves bluish-green, triangular, bipinnate (basal leaflets may be tripinnate), with thin black stems. Leaflets stalked, triangular or heart-shaped with lobes at the base. Damp, shady, protected hollows in limestone outcrops, Sonoran Desert. SIMILAR SPECIES: The large heart-shaped leaflets are distinctive.
	Argyrochosma limitanea Leaves up to 4 or 5-pinnate, triangular to pointed-oval. Leaflets minute, bluish green (gray or pale tan when dry), long oval, waxy white underneath. Stems are longer than the leaves. Shady cracks in any kind of rock, usually under a tree or shrub. SIMILAR SPECIES: A. incana has leaflets set further apart and has a more limited range. PHOTO: *Argyrochosma limitanea* with Cheilanthes tomentosa.
	ASTROLEPIS Scaly Cloak Ferns Leaves pinnate, dark green, long and narrow. Leaflets have tiny white star-shaped scales on the upper surface and fringed white to brownish ribbonlike scales on the lower surface. Sori are scattered near the edge of leaflets, often clustered between lobes. Typically grows in full sun on rocky slopes or ridgetops. The most sun-tolerant of the xerophytic ferns. SIMILAR GENERA: Both types of leaflet scales are unique to this genus. In our area, the narrow, pinnate leaves are also distinctive.
	Astrolepis cochisensis ssp. arizonica Cochise Cloak Fern, Narrow Cloak Fern Very narrow bluish or grayish green leaves in arched, open sprays. Leaflets oval to nearly circular, 0-3 shallow lobes. Upper surface speckled with persistent white scales. Small felted brown-dotted white scales on underside. Sun to part shade on weathered granite or feldspar-rich volcanics. FNA lists two AZ subspecies based on spore size and substrate: subsp. *arizonica(granite & volcanics); subsp. cochisensis* (limestone). SIMILAR SPECIES: In the field, the two subspecies differ only in substrate and very slightly in growth habit. Other Astrolepis have larger leaflets that are more obviously lobed.
	Astrolepis cochisensis ssp. cochisensis Very narrow leaves in tight, erect, shrublike clusters. Leaves very dark green, appearing almost black in bright sunlight, grayish brown when dry. Leaflets oval to nearly circular, 0-3 very shallow lobes. Upper surface speckled with persistent white scales. Small felted brown-dotted white scales on underside. Full sun on limestone or marble slopes and ridgetops; often abundant. One of our most drought-tolerant ferns. PHOTO:A. cochisensis ssp. cochisensis on limestone hilltop with Encelia farinosa, endangered Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nichollii, and Agave deserti var. simplex.
	Astrolepis integerrima Leaves erect, tightly clustered to slightly spreading, bright green to dark green, pale tan when dry. Leaflets variable in shape, even on a single leaf, and may be oval, elongate, or triangular. They have several shallow, uneven lobes. Dense, soft silvery-white scales cover the upper surface, even on older leaves. Shaggy overlapping light brown scales cover the underside. On limestone, full sun or part shade, solitary or in small groups. SIMILAR SPECIES: This species has the most irregular leaves and the largest scales of any Astrolepis.
	Astrolepis sinuata Wavy Scaly Cloak Fern Leaves large, robust, arched or spreading. Bright green, cinnamon brown when dry. Leaflets have seven or more distinct rounded lobes that are all the same size and shape. Young leaflets are dotted with white scales on the upper surface, white to tan or brownish scales on underside. Older leaflets have few or no scales on top. Full sun to part shade, reaches its largest size on limestone but also grows on other rock types. SIMILAR SPECIES: This common fern is the largest Astrolepis, with the largest, most complex, and most distinctly lobed leaflets.
	Astrolepis windhamii Leaves erect, tightly clustered, dark green, purplish brown when dry. Leaflets triangular to oval, with several shallow lobes, often with one or two more prominent lobes at the leaflet base. Upper side dusted with tiny white scales that are often absent on old leaflets. Scales on underside are shaggy white with brown streaks. Full sun. Usually on limestone, occasionally on shale, siltstone, or mica schist. SIMILAR SPECIES: A. sinuata has more and larger lobes on the leaflets. A. integerrima has more elongate leaflets, and larger, more persistent scales. A. cochisensis has smaller, rounder leaflets with fewer lobes.
	CHEILANTHES Cloak Ferns or Lip Ferns The largest and most diverse genus of xerophytic ferns. Triangular bipinnate or tripinnate leaves, often hairy or fuzzy. Stems often bear long triangular brown-striped scales. Edge of leaflets slightly thickened, wavy, and rolled under to partially cover sori. Fertile and sterile leaflets look similar. For this guide, species are divided into two groups based on leaflet shape. SIMILAR GENERA: In appearance, the leaves are the most typically "fernlike" of the xerophytes. Most other desert ferns are not hairy. Beadlike leaflets are unique to Cheilanthes.
CHEILANTHES species with "beaded" leaflets (segments convex or domed). "Bead Ferns"
	Cheilanthes covillei Triangular dark green to bright green leaves in tight clusters. Leaves bipinnate to tripinnate, with beadlike leaflets. Upper surface smooth, though central leaf vein may have a few white scales. Underside heavily covered with overlapping triangular ciliate scales that are tan at first, becoming white with brown stripes. Shady cracks in granite or other igneous outcrops in shrubby desert grassland or saguaro upland. Absent from SE Arizona. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. fendleri has slightly less rounded leaf segments, scales are thinner and not ciliate. C. wootonii has larger, broader leaves and the scales do not completely cover the underside of the leaves.
	Cheilanthes eatonii
	Cheilanthes feei Triangular bright green leaves, bipinnate to tripinnate, beadlike leaflets, with scattered soft downy hairs that do not obscure the color or beaded shape of the leaflets. Segments only 1-2mm. Grows in small tufts in fractures in dry, north-facing limestone cliffs. Widespread. SIMILAR SPECIES: One of the smallest and most delicate-looking Cheilanthes.
	Cheilanthes fendleri Light green tripinnate leaves with beadlike leaflets, green to brown stems. Upper side of leaflets smooth, underside has overlapping triangular colorless to light brown scales that do not have dark stripes. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. wootonii has darker, more heavily fringed scales and leaflet segments are more rounded. C. yavapensis is slightly downy or hairy on upper surface. C. villosa has hair on the upper surface of the leaf, and its scales have brown spots or stripes.
	Cheilanthes lendigera Light green tripinnate leaves with beadlike leaflets, dark brown stems. Upper side of leaflets slightly white-downy when young, later smooth. Underside of each leaflet segment has brown hairs on the veins and a translucent "pocket" or pouch at the margin. Range extends to Central America but in the U.S. this fern is restricted to the Mule and Huachuca Mts. Rocky oak woods and shady areas beside granite or volcanic boulders. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. fendleri, C. wootonii, and C. yavapensis look very similar, but pouches on the underside of leaflet segments are unique and are visible even when the leaf is dry and curled.
	Cheilanthes lindheimeri Fairy Sword Triangular grayish-green tripinnate leaves have a rough sandpapery feel. Leaflets broad, tripinnate, covered in coarse dense white hair on top, tan hair underneath with light brown scales on veins. Sun to part shade, on granite or rhyolite or argillaceous rocks derived from them. Often grows in rows or dense stands, especially on granite tors or beside boulders. Also found under yucca, prickly pear, or small shrubs. One of the most common desert ferns, may be abundant in suitable habitat. SIMILAR SPECIES: Identify by broad grayish leaflets and habit of growing in large stands.
	Cheilanthes villosa Hairy Lip Fern
	Cheilanthes wootonii SIMILAR SPECIES: Very similar to C. yavapensis but leaves are always smooth on uppper surface.
	Cheilanthes yavapensis SIMILAR SPECIES: Very similar to C. wootonii but leaves may be slightly downy or hairy on upper surface.
CHEILANTHES species with flat leaflets (segments not beadlike).
	Cheilanthes alabamensis Smooth Lip Fern Triangular bright green leaves, tripinnate, smooth on both sides. Pinnae may be alternate. Leaflets triangular, long pointed. SIMILAR SPECIES: One of the few desert Cheilanthes that is devoid of hairs or scales on the leaves. C. wrightii is smaller, usually lighter green, with bluntly pointed leaflets. Notholaena grayi is smaller and has a white waxy coating on the underside of the leaves.
	Cheilanthes arizonica
	Cheilanthes bonariensis (=Notholaena aurea) Golden Lip Fern Leaves dark green, shining, narrow, long-pointed, pinnate-pinnatifid. Leaflets also narrow and long-pointed, shining, covered in fine white down on the upper surface and dense yellow feltlike fuzz on the underside. Full sun, among volcanic or granite outcrops and boulders. SIMILAR SPECIES: Notholaena aschenborniana is smaller, grows on limestone, and has scales and farina (not yellow fuzz) on the underside of leaflets.
	Cheilanthes parryi Leaves very white-fuzzy on both sides. Leaflets bipinnate, segments round but not beaded. Grows in cracks in any kind of rock outcrop. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. feei has beaded leaflets and leaves hairy on the back only. C. lindheimeri is larger, with longer and broader leaflets that are tan underneath.
	Cheilanthes pringlei Leaves light green, tripinnate, delicate, smooth and hairless. Igneous rock, Sonoran Desert. Uncommon. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. wrightii has broader, slightly pointed leaflets.
	Cheilanthes tomentosa Woolly Lip Fern Leaves bright green to bluish green, tripinnate. Leaflets thinly covered with short white downy hair on top, densely white to light brown fuzzy underneath. Stems and leaf veins have white or tan hairs and long, tapered tan scales. Grows in part shade among small sheltered sheltered outcrops, usually on steep slopes with good drainage. Prefers limestone but grows on any rock type. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. villosa has leaflets scaly underneath, not downy.
	Cheilanthes wrightii Leaves bright green, tripinnate. Leaflets smooth on both sides, stem smooth, without scales or hairs. Leaves often die back completely in the fall. New growth appears in July with monsoon rain. Grows in tufts or small stands in full sun on granite or other igneous rock. Prefers flat areas with fine gravel and healthy soil crust. When protected from trampling, this fern may form a lacy, delicate ground cover. SIMILAR SPECIES: C. alabamensis is larger, has scaly stems, and leaflets have longer points. C. pringlei has more slender leaflets with blunt tips.
	NOTHOLAENA Leaves narrow triangular or star-shaped, dark green, bipinnate to pinnate-pinnatifid. Leaflets have scattered white mealy grains on upper surface, dense white mealy coating on lower surface. Leaf margins are rolled under to partially cover sori. Segments at tip of leaflets are sessile (stalkless) and pinnatifid. SIMILAR GENERA: White mealy coating on underside of leaflets will distinguish this genus from all except Argyrochosma. The latter has mealy white grains on lower surface of leaves only, segments at leaflet tips are entire and stalked, and leaflets are bluish green rather than dark green.
NOTHOLAENA species with narrow triangular leaves, bipinnate or pinnate-pinnatifid.
	Notholaena aschenborniana Dark gray-green leaves, bipinnate or pinnate-pinnatifid, long triangular. White star-shaped scales on upper surface of leaflets, brown fringed scales on lower surface and stem. White farina present on both sides, but hidden by scales. Full sun on limestone (Mississippian Escabrosa Fm), southeastern AZ. SIMILAR SPECIES: Other Notholaena have no scales on leaflets. Astrolepis are pinnate. Cheilanthes bonariensis has yellow fuzz on underside of leaflets and is not found on limestone. C. tomentosa has tripinnate leaflets with white and brownish fuzz on leaflets, not scales.
	Notholaena grayi Leaves bright green to dark green, bipinnate to tripinnate, triangular. Leaflets triangular. Upper side spotted with white mealy grains. Underside has scattered dark brown hairs and scales on veins. On granite or rhyolite. SIMILAR SPECIES: N. lemmonii has shorter asymmetrical leaflets that lack hairs or scales on the underside. Cheilanthes tomentosa has fuzzy leaflets, lacks white farina.
	Notholaena lemmonii Leaves dark green, narrow, bipinnate. Leaflets triangular to rectangular, leaflets and segments quite variable in shape, even on a signle leaf. Upper side of leaflets sparsely dotted with white mealy grains. Underside densely mealy white to pale yellow with prominent smooth brown veins, with no hairs or scales. SIMILAR SPECIES: N. grayi has longer leaflets and scattered hairs and/or scales on the veins on the underside of each leaflet. Astrolepis windhamii is scaly on the underside of the leaflets.
	"STAR" FERNS: Three NOTHOLAENA and two other species with pseudopentagonal leaves. Leaves appear to be divided into five leaflets, but actually the leaf is just very short, with the lowest two pinnae as large as the rest of the leaf, and the basal pinnules enlarged.
	Notholaena californica Leaves star-shaped, dark green when mature, bright green when young, leathery, bipinnate to tripinnate. Dotted with white farina grains on upper surface, lower surface mealy white to light yellow. Partial shade on granite outcrops, western AZ and southern CA. SIMILAR SPECIES: N. neglecta is similar and closely related, but its range is south and east of N. californica with no overlap. N. neglecta has longer, more triangular leave and grows on limestone.
	Notholaena neglecta Leaves star-shaped or triangular, dark green, with tiny triangular leaflets. Dotted with white farina grains on upper surface, lower surface mealy white. Partial shade on limestone outcrops, southeastern AZ. SIMILAR SPECIES: N. californica is closely related but grows on granite and its range is north and west of N. neglecta. Argyrochosma limitanea has bluish green rounded leaflets, ovate or triangular (not star-shaped) leaves, and lacks white farina dots on upper surface of leaves.
	Notholaena standleyi Star Fern Leaves tripinnate, dark green, leathery, long-stemmed, in tight clusters. Leaves obviously star-shaped, leaflets triangular and pointed. Upper surface of new leaves dotted with white farina grains, older leaves smooth and shining. Underside densely coated with pale yellow farina. Shade to part sun in sheltered cracks on limestone, granite, or volcanic outcrops. The most widespread of the star ferns. SIMILAR SPECIES: The most "star-like" of our ferns. Leaflets are broader and more triangular than other star ferns.
	Bommeria hispida Copper Fern Leaves are green underneath, without any coating. Hairy on both sides. Hairs are brown on mature leaves, white on younger ones. Old leaves may turn purplish-brown. Dried leaves are brown and curled downward (with upper surface exposed) like tiny hands. Damp, shady areas in fractured volcanic rock, beside boulders, or under shrubs, forming wandering lines of leaves from creeping rootstock. Southeastern AZ mountain ranges. SIMILAR SPECIES: Hairy star-shaped leaves are distinctive. Common and easy to recognize.
	Pentagramma triangularis (= Pityrogramma triangularis) Goldback Fern Leaves are light green, with rounded leaflets, and are waxy white or yellowish underneath. Arizona plants are subspecies *maxonii.*

Other Xerophytic Ferns (not found in Arizona)

Cheilanthes viscida Sticky Lace Fern
Leaves tripinnate, dark green, in tight clusters. Leaflets have no hair or scales, but are sticky and/or shiny, and may be covered in dust. Leaflet segments are tiny, rounded to slightly pointed but not domed or beadlike. Sori are shiny black, clustered at the edges of the underside of leaflets. Damp, shady crevices under boulders, restricted to southern California.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Sticky leaves are unique among U.S. xerophytic ferns. The only other Cheilanthes in its range are C. wootoni and C. covillei ("beaded" leaflets, smooth above, scaly below), and C. parryi (leaves fuzzy).

Other Southern Arizona Ferns (NOT XEROPHYTES)
More common in humid climates. Rare and local in southern Arizona's Sky Island mountains.

	Asplenium resiliens One of several Spleenworts in southern AZ, all with shining evergreen pinnate leaves. This species has long triangular leaflets with a slight "ear" near the base. Madrean evergreen woodland, on limestone or rhyolite.
	Adiantum capillus-veneris Venus Maidenhair Fern Wiry black stems and irregularly lobed, toothed leaflets. Leaves form cascades over rocks or streambanks. Grows worldwide in suitable habitat. In our area, restricted to shady limestone springs and seeps with dripping water.

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Photos, drawings, text, and webpage by Lorena Babcock Moore, 2007. e-mail