

^^ 





m 



Portion of mature Frond— upper side. 



OYMNOGRAMMA CHRYSOPHYLLA. Kaulfuss. Moore. 



PLATE -Iv, 



Ceropteris chrysophjUa, 

 Gymnogramme clirysopliylla, 

 A crostiehimi chrysopkyllum, 

 Acrostiohuni aculeatum, 



Link. Fee. 

 KuNZE. Spbengel. 



SWAETZ. WiLLDENOW. 



Desvaux. 



Gymnogramma — Naked writing. ChrysophjUa — Golden-leaved. 



Of all the Ferns cultivated in Great Britain, perhaps no 

 species is so universally admired as the * Gymnogramma chry- 

 sophylla, the 'King of the Gold Ferns.' Its graceful habit of 

 growth, added to the farinose powder, covering the whole of 

 the under side of the fronds, and the rich golden appearance 

 of the young stems are attractions of no ordinary character — 

 attractions which cannot fail to strike even the most casual 

 observer, and especially when the plant is in full fructification; 

 for the dark-coloured seed vessels protrude through this golden 

 covering, and thus heighten the effect produced by this singu- 

 larly beautiful species. 



This exotic Fern is a native of South America and the 

 West Indies; it is found abundantly in the Island of St. 

 Domingo, and in the Caribbee Islands, especially in that of 

 Martinique, and is consequently a stove species: it is evergreen. 



The fronds sometimes attain the length of two feet, the 

 upper surface of which is a somewhat pale yellowish green, 

 whilst the under surface is covered with a rich golden yellow 



