Stem scales weakly bicolored, margins brown, narrow, poorly defined, thin, sparsely ciliate-denticulate. Leaves 7--30 cm. Petiole black to dark brown, much shorter than blade, grooved or flattened adaxially, bearing scattered glands and a few scales near base. Blade linear-lanceolate, 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, 3--6 times longer than wide, abaxially with conspicuous white or pale yellow farina, scales absent, adaxially glabrous at maturity; basal pinnae usually slightly smaller than adjacent pair, ± equilateral, proximal basiscopic pinnules not greatly enlarged. Ultimate segments sessile, broadly adnate to costae; segment margins slightly recurved, rarely concealing sporangia. Sporangia containing 64 spores. 2 n = 60.
Sporulating summer--fall. Rocky slopes and cliffs, usually on granitic or volcanic substrates; 1000--1500 m; Ariz.; w Mexico.
According to E. Wollenweber (1984), Notholaena lemmonii shows remarkable infraspecific variability in the chemical composition of the farina. R. M. Tryon (1956) recognized two varieties of N . lemmonii . The type collection of the species came from southern Arizona, and all specimens from the flora area are N . lemmonii var. lemmonii . The disjunct N . lemmonii var. australis , known only from the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca, probably represents a distinct species.
General: Leaves 7-30 cm long from stems with weakly bicolored scales, margins brown, narrow, poorly defined and thin, sparsely ciliate, denticulate.
Leaves: On black to dark brown petiole, much shorter than blade, grooved or flattened above, bearing scattered glands and a few scales near base; blade linear-lanceolate, 2-pinnate, 3-6 times longer than wide, conspicuous white or pale yellow farina below, no scales, glabrous above at maturity; ultimate segments sessile, broadly adnate to costae, segment margins slightly recurved, rarely concealing sporangia.
Sporangia: Sori bearing 64 spores.
Ecology: Found on rocky slopes and cliffs, usually on granitic or volcanic substrates from 3,000-5,000 ft (914-1524 m);sporulates summer-fall.
Notes: There is var. lemmonii known to be collected from regional protected areas. Type collection from the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Etymology: Notholaena is from the Greek nothos, false, and chlaina, a cloak, a reference to the incomplete indusium, while lemmonii is named for John Gil Lemmon (1832-1908) and his wife Sara Plummer Lemmon (1836-1923) who collected plants all over the West for Asa G
Sources: FNA 1993, Kearney and Peebles 1969
Common Name: Lemmon's cloak fern
Rarity: None
General: Leaves 7-30 cm long from stems with weakly bicolored scales, margins brown, narrow, poorly defined and thin, sparsely ciliate, denticulate.
Leaves: On black to dark brown petiole, much shorter than blade, grooved or flattened above, bearing scattered glands and a few scales near base; blade linear-lanceolate, 2-pinnate, 3-6 times longer than wide, conspicuous white or pale yellow farina below, no scales, glabrous above at maturity; ultimate segments sessile, broadly adnate to costae, segment margins slightly recurved, rarely concealing sporangia.
Sporangia: Sori bearing 64 spores.
Ecology: Found on rocky slopes and cliffs, usually on granitic or volcanic substrates from 3,000-5,000 ft (914-1524 m);sporulates summer-fall.
Notes: Ours are of var. lemmonii. Type collection from the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Ethnobotany: Unknown
Etymology: Notholaena is from the Greek nothos, false, and chlaina, a cloak, a reference to the incomplete indusium, while lemmonii is named for John Gil Lemmon (1832-1908) and his wife Sara Plummer Lemmon (1836-1923) who collected plants all over the West for Asa Gray, including the type specimen of this plant in the Santa Catalina Mountains, near Tucson.
Synonyms: Cheilanthes lemmonii
Editor: SBuckley, 2010
