Small ferns with fruit-dots borne beneath the revolute margin of the
pinnules, at first roundish, but soon confluent into a narrow band without
indusium. Veins free. Fronds one to several times pinnate, the lower
surface hairy, or tomentose or powdery. Includes about forty species,
mostly American, but only one within our limits. (Greek name means
_spurious cloak_, alluding to the rudimentary or counterfeit indusium.)
(1) POWDERY CLOAK FERN. _Notholàena dealbàta_
Fronds two to six inches long, triangular-ovate, acute, broadest at the
base, tripinnate. Stalks tufted, wiry, shining, dark brown. Upper surface
of the very small segments green, smooth, the lower densely coated with
a pure, white powder; hence, the specific name _dealbata_, which means
whitened. Sori brown at length; veins free.
There are several species of cloak ferns, but only one within our limits.
The dry, white powder which covers them doubtless is designed to protect
them from too rapid evaporation of moisture, as they all inhabit dry and
sunny places. This delicate rock-loving fern is found in the clefts of dry
limestone rocks in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and southwestward.