Stem scales concolored to weakly bicolored, margins usually brown, very narrow and poorly defined, thin, ciliate-denticulate. Leaves 5–20 cm. Petiole brown, equal to or somewhat shorter than blade, rounded adaxially, glandular-farinose, bearing scattered hairs and scales. Blade linear-lanceolate, 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, 3–6 times longer than wide, abaxially with conspicuous whitish farina and dull, light brown, lanceolate, entire scales scattered along rachises and costae, adaxially distinctly glandular; basal pinnae equal to or slightly larger than adjacent pair, ± equilateral, proximal basiscopic pinnules not greatly enlarged. Ultimate segments sessile, broadly adnate to costae; segment margins slightly recurved, rarely concealing sporangia. Sporangia containing 16 or 32 spores.

Distribution

North America, Mexico.

Discussion

Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).

Notholaena grayi comprises two cytotypes here treated as subspecies. Sexually reproducing diploid populations (N. grayi subsp. sonorensis) are concentrated in southern Arizona and western Mexico. Apogamous triploids (N. grayi subsp. grayi) are more widespread, extending from Arizona to central Texas and northeastern Mexico. Isozyme analyses indicate that subsp. grayi is an autotriploid derivative of subsp. sonorensis (G. J. Gastony and M. D. Windham 1989).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Notholaena grayi subsp. grayi, Notholaena grayi subsp. sonorensis

Key

1	Most sporangia containing 16 spores; spores generally more than 55 µm.	Notholaena grayi subsp. grayi
1	Most sporangia containing 32 spores; spores generally less than 55 µm.	Notholaena grayi subsp. sonorensis