Astrolepis cochisensis

Scaly cloak-fern, Scaly Cloak-Fern

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Scaly cloak-fern is a California native perennial found in the Desert Mountains in limestone slopes and rock crevices at elevations of 900 to 1,800 meters. With a distinctive fern structure, this plant has delicate fronds with pinnae less than 0.5 centimeters long, adorned with stellate and lanceolate scales ranging from white to tan. Growing with a short rhizome and stipe 3 to 6 centimeters tall, the fern develops a single-pinnate blade 8 to 15 centimeters long that tapers to a pointed tip. Its leaf surfaces are intricately covered with persistent stellate scales on the upper side and densely toothed, finely dissected scales on the lower side, creating a complex textural landscape. The sporangia develop in a submarginal band, partially visible and emerging through the plant's delicate scale covering.

Habitat: Limestone slopes, crevices

Elevation: 900-1800 m

Bioregions: DMtns

California counties: San Bernardino

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