PTERIDACEAE

BRAKE FAMILY

Alan R. Smith and Thomas Lemieux

Perennial, in soil or on or among rocks; rhizome creeping to erect, scaly
Leaves generally all ± alike (or of 2 kinds, fertile and sterile), generally < 50 cm, often < 25 cm; petiole generally thin, wiry, often dark, in transverse section with vascular strands generally 1–3, less often many in a circle; blade generally pinnate or ± palmate-pinnate (see Adiantum ), often 2 or more compound, lower surface often with glands, ± powdery exudate, hairs, or scales; segments round, oblong, fan-shaped, or otherwise, veins generally free
Sporangia in sori or not, marginal, submarginal, or along veins, sometimes covered by recurved, often modified segment margins (false indusia); true indusia 0; spores spheric, sides sometimes flat, scar with 3 radiating branches
Genera in family: ± 40 genera, 500 species: worldwide, especially dry areas. Definition of Cheilanthes and related genera problematic; traditional limits often untenable.

ASPIDOTIS

Plant in soil or rock crevices; rhizome short-creeping-decumbent, scales elongate-lanceolate, generally dark, sometimes with very narrow, lighter margin
Leaves ± alike or fertile and sterile slightly dissimilar; axes grooved, light to dark brown; blade 3–4-pinnate, ovate-triangular to 5-sided, glabrous, upper surface ± glossy; segments long, narrow, with a pointed, sterile tip
Sporangia in small clusters or continuous along margin; false indusia scarious, irregularly toothed
Species in genus: 4 species: generally w North America, also eastern Can, ± dry, mountainous areas
Etymology: (Greek: shield-bearer, from shield-like false indusia in A. californica )
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Native

A. densa (Brack.) Lellinger

INDIAN'S DREAM

Leaf (2)3-pinnate, 15–20(30+) cm, leathery, fertile and sterile slightly dissimilar; leaflets sometimes pinnately dissected, segments linear, ± entire
Sporangia: false indusia continuous along both sides of segment midvein, with many shallow, regular teeth
Chromosomes: 2n=60
Ecology: Slopes, crevices, outcrops, especially serpentine
Elevation: 100–3400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Central Western California
Distribution outside California: to sw Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Utah; also se Canada (Gaspé Peninsula)
Synonyms: Onychium d. Brack
Horticultural information: DRN, SHD: 4, 5, 6 &IRR: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; DFCLT.