Heartleaf Cliffbrake

Description

Stems compact, ascending, stout, 6--10 mm diam.; scales uniformly orange-brown and thin, lanceolate to ovate, largest scales 0.3--1 mm wide, margins dentate. Leaves somewhat dimorphic, sterile leaves shorter than fertile leaves, clustered on stem, 15--50 cm; croziers not conspicuously pubescent, densely scaly. Petiole straw-colored, tan, or gray, not lustrous, rounded or slightly flattened adaxially, without prominent articulation lines. Blade ovate-deltate, 2-pinnate proximally, 5--20 cm wide; rachis tan throughout, straight to slightly flexuous, rounded or flattened adaxially, glabrous. Pinnae perpendicular to rachis or slightly ascending, not decurrent on rachis, usually with 3--15 ultimate segments; costae straight to slightly flexuous, 25--100 mm, longer than ultimate segments. Ultimate segments round-cordate to deltate-cordate, 5--15 mm, herbaceous to leathery, glabrous or puberulent; margins recurved on fertile segments, covering less than 1/2 abaxial surface, borders whitish, crenulate; apex rounded or retuse. Veins of ultimate segments usually evident. Sporangia short-stalked, containing 64 spores, not intermixed with farina-producing glands. 2 n = 58.Sporulating summer--fall. Rocky slopes and ledges, usually on volcanic substrates; 1000--2500 m; Tex.; Mexico.