660 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
There are very few Ferns known that are only annual 
in duration, and the present genus has the distinction of 
including two of these. The spores of these two—Gymnogramme 
cherophylla and G. leptophylla—germinate with what, among Ferns, 
must be characterised as precipitous haste ; for those shed in summer have 
produced plants by autumn which are full-grown the next spring, and 
perish in summer. The genus is best known in gardens through G. 
calomelanos, a Tropical American species, which was introduced from 
the West Indies in 1790. In the normal form this species has the under 
surface sprinkled with white powder, which imparts a silvery appearance, 
and, of course, led to the plant being called Silver Fern. Several other 
species share this character. In 1793 G. rufa was introduced from 
Jamaica. As a contrast to G. calomelanos, there was introduced, also 
from Jamaica, in 1808, a yellow-dusted species, G. sulphurea. G. 
trifoliata (Jamaica, 1810) has both white- and yellow-backed fronds; 
G. tartarea (1817), dense white powder. In 1824 a yellow-backed 
form was introduced, and long known as G. chrysophylla, but now 
ranks as a variety of G. calomelanos. Among the more recently- 
introduced species we may mention G. japonica, from Japan, 1863; 
G. Pearcei, from Peru, 1864; G. triangularis, from Vancouver Island, 
1874; and G. schizophylla, from Jamaica, 1880. 
GYMNOGRAMME CALOMELANOS (beautiful black). Stipes 
tufted, 6 to 12 inches long. Fronds 1 to3 feet long, 6 to 
12 inches across base. Pinnz lance-shaped, the lowest pair much larger 
than the others; the lowest pinnules almost again pinnate. Powdered 
white. The var. peruviana is smaller than the type; fronds 12 to 16 
inches long; stipes and rachis chestnut-brown. The var. chrysophylla, 
represented on Plate 312, is similar to the var. peruviana, but the rachis 
is darker in colour, and the powder is golden-yellow. This is usually 
known as G. chrysophylla, as printed beneath the plate; but its correct 
designation is G. calomelanos, var. chrysophylla. Stove. 
G. JAPONICA (Japanese). Rootstock creeping. Stipes 6 to 12 inches 
long. Fronds 1} to 2 feet long, a foot across, pinnate; lowest pinne 
again pinnate. Pinne 6 to 12 inches long, entire. Stove. 
G. LEPTOPHYLLA (slender-leaved). Annual Silver Fern. Stipes 1 to 
4 inches long. Frond slender, 1 to 3 inches long, oblong-oval, twice or 
thrice pinnate, smooth. Pinnules oval, wedge-shaped, with two or three 
blunt lobes; annual. Hardy. 
G. PEARCEI(Pearce’s). Stipes6to9incheslong. Fronds triangular, 
1 foot either way, four times pinnately cut (quadripinnatiid). Lower 
pinne 4 to 6 inches long; pinnules overlapping. Powdered white. Stove. 
History. 
PrincipalSpecies, 
