177 



It propagates freely by spores and this pro.- 

 bably accounts for its having run wild in and 

 about Bombay. It is particularly abundant 

 on hill sides which have been cut down for 

 reclamation purposes. It prefers a bright open 

 situation as is evidenced by its greater abuncj- 

 ance on the sunny hill sides at Rowli than in 

 the shade of the Sion Wood. The hill sides 

 also allow of free drainage without which the 

 fern cannot thrive. 



In cultivating this fern, therefore, a sunny 

 situation and free drainage are required. 



Var. chrysophylla (Gymnogramme chryso- 

 phylla Kaulf.) It is a smaller fern than the 

 type and the powder is bright yellow. 



It is the ' King of Gold Ferns ' and is univer- 

 sally admired. 



It is becoming naturalized on the Nilgiris. 

 It is a native of South America and the West 

 Indies. 



GENUS XLII. VITTARIA SM. 

 (Deriv. Vitta, a riband ; the riband-shaped 

 frond.) 



Veins simple, forming an acute angle with the 

 midrib and having their apices prolonged into 

 a transverse marginal vein which eventually 

 12 



