Stem scales strongly bicolored, margins brown, broad and well defined, thin, ciliate-denticulate. Leaves 4–15 cm. Petiole black, equal to or somewhat longer than blade, rounded adaxially, bearing scattered glands and a few scales near base. Blade narrowly deltate-pentagonal, 3–4-pinnate, 1–2 times longer than wide, abaxially with conspicuous pale yellow farina, scales absent, adaxially glabrous to sparsely glandular; basal pinnae much larger than adjacent pair, strongly inequilateral, proximal basiscopic pinnules greatly enlarged. Ultimate segments sessile to subsessile, narrowly adnate to costae or free; segment margins strongly revolute, often concealing sporangia. Sporangia containing 32 spores. n = 2n = 90, apogamous.

Phenology: Sporulating summer–fall.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and cliffs, apparently confined to limestone
Elevation: 300–1900 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Tex., Mexico.

Discussion

Notholaena neglecta is closely related to N. californica and may have been involved in the origin of polyploids within that complex. Populations occurring in the flora are composed of apogamous triploids, but a sexually reproducing diploid cytotype has been found in Nuevo León, Mexico (M. D. Windham, unpublished data).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.