Ferns 



227 



elegant character is sure to force itself upon them in time. As a room Fern 

 it is very valuable, as I have known it to stand in a dining-room, heated 

 by gas throughout the winter, without suffering any ill effects. The oblong 

 deltoid fronds are thrice pinnate with oblong lance-shaped pinnae and linear 

 lance-shaped pinnules. The spore clusters are near the margins at the end 

 of the veins. 



Doodia aspera multifida. A pretty Australian Fern, compact in growth, 

 chiefly valuable for the charming rosy tints on the young fronds. When 

 full grown the fronds are 6-12 in. long and pinnatifid, but young plants 

 in 3-in. pots sell best. 



Doryopteris palmata (!VY-LEAF FERN). A Tropical American Fern, 

 also known as Pteris, having palmate fronds 4-9 in. long divided into 

 narrow dark-green segments. Although ornamental and easily grown, this 

 species and a variety called geranifolia are not in much demand. 



Filmy Ferns. See on page 

 234. 



Gymnogramme (GOLD AND 

 SILVER FERNS). This genus con- 

 tains handsome Ferns, with naked 

 and narrow clusters of spores 

 and free-forked veins. Some of 

 the kinds have the under surface 

 of the fronds densely covered 

 with a white floury powder, 

 others with a golden powder, 

 hence the popular names. Un- 

 fortunately this gold and silver 

 powder suffers a good deal when 

 plants are taken to market; 

 hence there is not such a trade 

 done in Gymnogrammes as their 

 beauty would warrant. They 

 grow well in a compost of fibrous peat, leaf mould, and silver sand, and 

 as a rule like a fair amount of light and a well-ventilated house with 

 a dryish atmosphere. The best market varieties are such forms of the 

 Tropical American G. calomelanos as Alstoni, Martensi, and 0. peruviana 

 argyrophylla, to which may be added 0. tartarea ochracea, 0. pulchella 

 Wettenhalliana, and G. schizophylla (fig. 312). 



Hemionitis. There are several species in this genus, recognized by the 

 spore clusters being continuous along the copiously netted veins, and also 

 sometimes developed slightly between them. The best market kinds are 

 H. cordata, from India, Ceylon, the Philippines, &c., having simple, entire, 

 heart-shaped, deep-green fronds; and H. palmata, having hairy palmate 

 fronds with oblong crenulate segments. Both kinds are compact in growth, 

 and a limited trade is done in them when grown in small pots. 



Lomaria. This genus is closely related to BLECHNUM, but is dis- 



Fig. 812. Gymnogramme schizophylla 



VOL. II. 



30ft 



