234 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



Gymnogrammes should be potted firmly in light material, made up of 

 two parts of fibrous peat, one of leaf mould (where this is not readily procurable, 

 the same quantity of finely-chopped sphagnum-moss may be substituted), and 

 one of silver sand. Those grown in pots should not be mixed among other 

 Ferns, but be kept by themselves and out of reach of the water from the 

 syringe, as they not only sufier from the eifects of watering overhead, but 

 also present a wretched appearance, the white or yellow meal being easily 



displaced by the slightest sprinkling of water. 

 They grow very well and get much better 

 coloured if kept without, or with only very 

 light, shading, the light, however strong, never 

 being too much for them, provided they have 

 been accustomed to it from the first, and that 

 plenty of ventilation is afl^orded. Although 

 particularly fond of a dry atmosphere, Gymno- 

 grammes are plants which suffer very much if 

 water at the roots is not freely administered, 

 and lax treatment in this respect often accounts 

 for the poor state and diminutive size in which 

 one sometimes sees them in general collections. 



Gymnogrammes are readily propagated 

 from their spores, which germinate freely and 

 make handsome specimens in a comparatively 

 short time. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 



G. (Selliguea) abyssinlca — Sel-li'-gue-a ; 

 ab-yss-in'-ic-a (Abyssinian), Baker. 

 A stove species, of medium dimensions, 

 native of Abyssinia, and provided with wide- 

 creeping rhizomes (stems), from which simple 

 (undivided) fronds are abundantly produced. 

 These fronds are lanceolate (spear-shaped), 1ft. long and about Jin. broad, 

 narrowed to a point at their summit and gradually downwards to a short, 



Fl^. 52. Back of Frond of Gymnogramme 

 alismeefolia 

 (I nat. size). 



