Argyrochosma limitanea subsp. limitanea

Southwestern false cloak-fern, Southwestern False Cloak-Fern, southwestern false cloak-fern

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Southwestern false cloak-fern is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in the eastern desert mountains including the New York Mountains in rock crevices, especially at the base of calcareous rocks at elevations of 1,800 meters. The fern has dark brown to black stem stalks supporting ovate to triangular leaf blades 10 to 25 centimeters long. Its leaf segments are generally small, measuring 1.5 to 3 millimeters, with basal pinna stalks 5 to 10 millimeters long and pinnule stalks 3 to 6 millimeters in length. The delicate fern grows with finely divided leaf structures that tuck into rocky crevices, creating intricate patterns against stone surfaces. With chromosomal complexity (n=2n=81), this rare fern represents a specialized adaptation to harsh desert mountain environments.

Habitat: In crevices, especially bases of calcareous rocks

Elevation: 1800 m

Bioregions: e DMtns (New York Mtns)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.