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Native Plant Database

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Notholaena standleyi (Star cloak fern)
Livings, Hal

Notholaena standleyi Maxon

Star Cloak Fern, Northern Desert Star Cloakfern

Pteridaceae (Maidenhair Fern Family)

Synonyms: Cheilanthes standleyi, Cheilanthes hookeri

USDA Symbol: NOST

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Saxicolous, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial to about 10 inches in height. Frond blades triangular or usually pentagonal, about 3 inches long and 2-1/2 inches wide, bipinnitifid or tripinnatifid, abaxial side coated with a cream,yellowish, gold or green and brown farina. Sori line the abaxial pinnule margins. During drought, the frond blades curl into a ball-shaped configuration and unfurl when environmental moisture is available.

Native to AZ, NM, TX, CO, OK and northern MX. Distribution often highly disjunct. On xeric soils and in rock crevices among granite and limestone boulders on talus slopes and other rocky sites to 6500 feet elevation.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Fern
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Complexity: Bipinnate , Tripinnate
Leaf Margin: Pinnatifid
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Distribution

USA: AR , CO , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: Native to AZ, NM, TX, CO, OK and northern MX. Distribution often highly disjunct.
Native Habitat: On xeric soils and in rock crevices among granite and limestone boulders on talus slopes and other rocky sites to 6500 feet elevation.
USDA Native Status: L48 N

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rock granitic or limestone soils.

Benefit

Interesting Foliage: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Notholaena standleyi in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Notholaena standleyi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Notholaena standleyi

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-12-14
Research By: Joseph Marcus

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