Please note that the Museum will be closing at noon on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 for a staff appreciation event. (Art Institute classes are not affected by the closure.)

Biological Survey of Ironwood Forest National Monument

Nonflowering Plants

Photographer: Mark Dimmitt


Argyrochosma jonesii (Jones' lipfern, formerly Notholaena j.) is rare in IFNM, where it is near the southern limit of its distribution.
Astrolepis cochisensis (left) and A. sinuata are common and widespread in the desert. They were formerly in the genus Notholaena. A. cochisensis is usually found on lime-rich soils.

Cheilanthes pringlei (Pringle lipfern) was a candidate endangered species, but was rejected when it was found to be common in the Tucson Mountains and Sonora.
Cheilanthes yavapensis (Yavapai lipfern) is a recently described species commonly confused with C. wootonii.

Cheilanthes wrightii (Wright lipfern)
Notholaena standleyi (Standley cloakfern) is about as common and widespread as Astrolepis.

Pellaea truncata (cliff brake) is widespread.
Pentagramma triangularis (golden fern, formerly Pityrogramma t.) is widespread.

Most mushrooms are delicate and ephemeral, but this desert mushroom dries to a woody consistency and persists for a year or more.
Biological soil crusts (cryptogamic crusts) are important components of arid ecosystems. See the caption under soil crusts.

Lichens are actually not plants. They are a symbiotic pairing between an alga and a fungus or a cyanobacterium. All three types of organisms belong to different kingdoms. This community of several species of lichens is in the Sawtooth Mountains.		  

 

 
Silhouette Icon
Biological Survey of Ironwood Forest National Monument General Vegetation Vascular Flora Cacti Distribution and Status of Saguaros and Trees Natural History of the Desert Ironwood Tree (Olneya tesota) Rare Plant Inventory Exotic Plants Assessment Human Impacts Lesser Long-Nosed Bat Geologic Aspects of Ironwood Forest National Monument Avra Valley Gallery Aguirre Valley Images Pan Quemado Gallery Ragged Top Gallery Roskruge Mountains Gallery Samaniego Hills Gallery Sawtooth Mountains Gallery Silver Bell Mountains Gallery Waterman Mountains Gallery West Silver Bell Mountains Gallery Arizona Upland Gallery Lower Colorado River Valley Gallery Xeroriparian Habitats (Desert Washes) The Desert Ironweed Tree - Olneya tesota Cacti of IFNM Crucifixion Thorns of IFNM Gallery of Selected Noncactaceous Flora
CESD Homepage Adult Classes and Trips School & Youth Programs Teacher Resources Need-based Discount Application Community Outreach Digital Library Kids & Education Research & Conservation Natural History Tour of the Sonoran Desert Region Sonorensis magazine cover
Sonorensis Docent Program Green Initiatives

Support Desert Museum Education!

A donation of any size will help sustain our educational efforts. Simply select- Education, Conservation, Science, Research for your designation.

Donate