Taxon Report

Astrolepis cochisensis (Goodd.) Benham & Windham ssp. cochisensis

scaly cloak fern

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Astrolepis cochisensis ssp. cochisensis, commonly known as scaly cloak fern, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Pteridaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Joshua tree "woodland", and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 900 to 1800 meters. Astrolepis cochisensis ssp. cochisensis is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Astrolepis cochisensis (Goodd.) Benham & Windham ssp. cochisensis
Common Name:	scaly cloak fern
Family:	Pteridaceae
Element Code:	PPADI0P013
USDA Plants Symbol:	ASCOC3
Synonyms/Other Names:	Notholaena cochisensis Cheilanthes cochisensis (Goodd.) Mickel

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Oct	Apr-Oct
Elevation:	900-1800 (2955-5905)
General Habitats:	Joshua tree "woodland", Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:	Carbonate
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G5?T4
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	20
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	17

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Clark Mtn. (3511555), Colton Well (3411584), Fountain Peak (3411585), Ivanpah Lake (3511554), Mescal Range (3511545), Pachalka Spring (3511556), Twelvemile Spring (3611612), Valley Wells (3511546)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	5
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	25 %
Development	2	10%
Non-native plant impacts	2	10%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	10%
Other	1	5%
Erosion/runoff	1	5%

Notes



Need quad for occurrence in the Providence Mtns. See Muhlenbergia 8:93 (1912) for original description, Madroño 25(1):57 (1978) for distributional information, Phytologia 41(6):431-437 (1979) for nomenclature, American Journal of Botany 75:138 (1988) for taxonomic discussion, and American Fern Journal 82(2):57 (1992) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 25 November 2025].