Notholaena lemmonii

Known from two counties in southern Arizona, where few populations have been confirmed extant, and also from several Mexican states. A doubtful variety "australis" has been reported from southern Mexico, but it is likely to be a separate species, according to Flora of North America. Apparently not threatened, except for potential droughts.

Known from southern Arizona and from Mexico. In Arizona, from Santa Cruz and Pima counties, found on Santa Rita, Tumacacori, Rincon, and Santa Catalina mountains (Kearney and Peebles, 1951). R.M. Tryon recongized two varieties of N. lemmonii. The typical variety is from Arizona and a disjunct N. lemmonii var. australis is known only from the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca, but probably represents a distinct species (FNA, 1993). In Mexico, it has also been reported from southwestern Chihuahua, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and northern Sinaloa (notes from George Yatskievych to Sabra Schwartz, Dec. 9, 1999).

George Yatskievych, from the Missouri Botanical Garden, wrote to Sabra Schwartz (December 9, 1999): Aside from potential drought induced by lowering of the water table for irrigation and drinking water, I don't know of many threats to the species. It tends to grow in areas rocky enough to discourage cattle from trampling it and for the same reason conversion to agriculture seems unlikely. Most of the few sites in Arizona that I am aware of seem to have some level of land protection. In Sonora, I suppose it's possible that mining might play a role in impacting it, but most of the mines in these areas seem to be smaller tunnel affairs rather than big pits. This makes me think the species is reasonably secure right now south of the border and probably in Arizona as well.