Argyrochosma is a genus of ferns known commonly as false cloak ferns. The genus is included in the Cheilanthoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae.^[1] Species now in this genus were previously treated as members of related genera Notholaena or Pellaea but were segregated into their own genus in 1987. These ferns, of which there are about 20 species, are native to the Americas, from North to South and including the Caribbean. They are commonly found growing in cracks between rocks. Their leaves are generally shorter than 40 centimeters and have rounded bluish or grayish green segments. Often the lower surface of the segments is coated in a white dust, and the sporangia contain brown spores.

Selected species:

• Argyrochosma dealbata - powdery false cloak fern
• Argyrochosma fendleri - Fendler's false cloak fern
• Argyrochosma incana - hairy false cloak fern
• Argyrochosma jonesii - Jones' false cloak fern
• Argyrochosma limitanea - southwestern false cloak fern
• Argyrochosma microphylla - small-leaf false cloak fern

References