SafePlants

Hybrid Cloakfern (Astrolepis integerrima)

The Hybrid Cloakfern, scientifically known as Astrolepis integerrima, is a fascinating member of the plant kingdom, especially noted for its hybrid origin and unique characteristics.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Astrolepis integerrima (Hook.) Benham & Windham
• Common Names: Hybrid Cloakfern, Southwestern Cloak Fern, Star Scale Cloak Fern, Hybrid Lipfern
• Family: Pteridaceae (Fern Family)
• Rank: Species
• Synonym: Cheilanthes integerrima (Hook.) Mickel

Distribution and Habitat

• The Hybrid Cloakfern is native to the United States (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas) and Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Aguascalientes, Oaxaca).
• Specific locations in Arizona include Salero Ranch, Santa Cruz Co., and Ash Canyon.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• The Hybrid Cloakfern is a perennial forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that lives for more than two years.
• It develops like a typical fern.
• Leaflets can be asymmetrically lobed or entire, with a dense covering of scales on the upper surface.
• Medium in size, and green in spring, summer, autumn, and winter

Genetic and Cytological Information

• Astrolepis integerrima is an apogamous allotriploid hybrid. This means it reproduces without fertilization and has three sets of chromosomes derived from different species.
• Isozyme analyses by D.M. Benham in 1989 suggest that it originated as a hybrid between A. cochisensis and an unnamed species from Mexico.

Ecology

• This species is believed to be a naturally-occurring hybrid of A. cochisensis and an unnamed species in Mexico.

Similar Species

• The Hybrid Cloakfern is very similar to Astrolepis cochisensis. Leaflet shapes are highly variable but have uneven lobes.

Further Information

• USDA PLANTS Database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASIN19
• Royal Botanic Garden: Herbarium specimen available for viewing.