Stems compact; stem scales uniformly tan or somewhat darker near base, to 15 mm, margins ciliate-dentate to entire. Leaves 8--45 cm. Blade 1-pinnate to pinnate-pinnatifid, pinna pairs 20--45. Pinnae oblong to ovate, largest usually 7--15 mm, entire or asymmetrically lobed, lobes 2--7, broadly rounded, separated by shallow sinuses; abaxial scales concealing surface, lanceolate, usually 1--1.5 mm, ciliate with coarse marginal projections; adaxial scales abundant, mostly persistent, stellate to coarsely ciliate, elongate, attached at base, body mostly 5--7 cells wide. Sporangia containing 32 spores. n = 2 n = 87, apogamous.
Sporulating summer--fall. Rocky hillsides and cliffs; usually on limestone or other calcareous substrates; 500--1800 m; Ariz., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; n,c Mexico.
R. H. Hevly (1965) hypothesized that Astrolepis integerrima was produced by hybridization between A . cochisensis and A . sinuata . Recent isozyme analyses (D. M. Benham 1989) indicate, however, that Astrolepis integerrima is an apogamous allotriploid hybrid between A . cochisensis and an unnamed Mexican taxon related to A . crassifolia (Houlston & T. Moore) D. M. Benham & Windham. Two morphologic forms exist in this taxon: one with essentially entire pinnae, and one (more common in the United States) with larger, asymmetrically lobed pinnae. The former might be confused with A . cochisensis on occasion, but the abundance of adaxial scales and the larger pinnae of A . integerrima should serve to distinguish these species. The lobed form of A . integerrima is superficially similar to A . windhamii , from which it is distinguished by the abundance and greater width of adaxial scales and the asymmetrical lobing of the pinnae.
General: Evergreen fern with compact congested stems with scales uniformly tan or darker near base, to 15 mm, margins ciliate-dentate to entire, leaves reaching 8-45 cm.
Leaves: Blade once pinnate, with 20-45 pinna pairs; oblong to ovate, largest 7-15 mm, entire or asymmetrically lobed with 2-7 lobes, broadly rounded, separated by shallow sinuses; scales below obscure surface, lanceolate, usually 1-1.5 mm, ciliate with coarse marginal projections; upper scales abundant, persistent, stellate to coarsely ciliate, elongate, attached at base.
Sporangia: Sporangia bears 32 spores, produced asexually.
Ecology: Found on rocky hillsides or cliffs, usually on limestone from 2,000-6,500 ft (610-1981 m); sporulates summer-fall.
Notes: Thought to be a hybrid of A. cochisensis and A. sinuata. Two forms of this species exist, one with essentially entire pinnae, and the other with larger, asymmetrically lobed pinnae. The latter is more common in our region. Distinguished from A. cochisensis by this species having abundant scales on the upper surface as well as having bigger pinnae.
Etymology: Astrolepis is from the Greek astron, a star, and lepis, scale, which refers to the scales on the blade surface, while integerrima means having a smooth edge, or undivided.
Sources: FNA 1993, Kearney and Peebles 1969
Common Name: hybrid cloakfern
General: Evergreen fern with compact congested stems with scales uniformly tan or darker near base, to 15 mm, margins ciliate-dentate to entire, leaves reaching 8-45 cm.
Leaves: Blade once pinnate, with 20-45 pinna pairs; oblong to ovate, largest 7-15 mm, entire or asymmetrically lobed with 2-7 lobes, broadly rounded, separated by shallow sinuses; scales below obscure surface, lanceolate, usually 1-1.5 mm, ciliate with coarse marginal projections; upper scales abundant, persistent, stellate to coarsely ciliate, elongate, attached at base.
Sporangia: Sporangia bears 32 spores, produced asexually.
Ecology: Found on rocky hillsides or cliffs, usually on limestone from 2,000-6,500 ft (610-1981 m); sporulates summer-fall.
Notes: Distinguishing characters for the genus are once-pinnate leaves with lobed pinnae, dense scales covering pinnae surfaces underneath and the dense to sparse stellate scales on the upper surfaces. This species thought to be derived from hybridization between A. cochisensis and A. sinuata, and somewhat intermediate in characteristics between the two. Distinguished by asymmetrically-lobed pinnae 7-15 mm long (<7 mm long in the similar A. cochinensis) and dense scales on the upper pinnae surfaces. Two forms of this species exist, one with essentially entire pinnae, and the other with larger, asymmetrically lobed pinnae.
Ethnobotany: Unknown
Etymology: Astrolepis is from the Greek astron, a star, and lepis, scale, which refers to the scales on the blade surface, while integerrima means having a smooth edge, or undivided.
Synonyms: Cheilanthes integerrma, Notholaena integerrima, N. sinuata var. integerrima
Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015
