Argyrochosma is a genus of ferns known commonly as false cloak ferns. The genus is included in the Cheilanthoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae. Species now in this genus were previously treated as members of related genera Notholaena or Pellaea but were segregated into their own genus in 1987. These ferns, of which there are about 20 species, are mostly native to the Americas, from North to South and including the Caribbean, while one species, A. connectens, is known from Sichuan, China. They are commonly found growing in cracks between rocks. Their leaves are generally shorter than and have rounded bluish or grayish green segments. Often the lower surface of the segments is coated in a white dust, and the sporangia contain brown spores.
Species
, the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World recognized the following species: Argyrochosma chilensis (Fée ex J.Rémy) Windham Argyrochosma connectens (C.Chr.) G.M.Zhang Argyrochosma dealbata (Pursh) Windham - powdery false cloak fern Argyrochosma delicatula (Maxon & Weath.) Windham Argyrochosma fendleri (Kunze) Windham - Fendler's false cloak fern Argyrochosma flava (Hook.) M.Kessler & A.R.Sm. Argyrochosma formosa (Liebm.) Windham Argyrochosma incana (C.Presl) Windham - hairy false cloak fern Argyrochosma jonesii (Maxon) Windham - Jones' false cloak fern Argyrochosma limitanea (Maxon) Windham - southwestern false cloak fern Argyrochosma lumholtzii (Maxon & Weath.) Windham Argyrochosma microphylla (Mett. ex Kuhn) Windham - small-leaf false cloak fern Argyrochosma nivea (Poir.) Windham Argyrochosma pallens (Weath. ex R.M.Tryon) Windham Argyrochosma palmeri (Baker) Windham Argyrochosma peninsularis (Maxon & Weath.) Windham Argyrochosma pilifera (R.M.Tryon) Windham Argyrochosma stuebeliana (Hieron.) Windham Argyrochosma tenera (Gillies Hook.) M.Kessler & A.R.Sm.