G YMNO GRA MME. 



273 



G. (Ceropteris) tartarea — Ce-rop'-ter-is ; tar-tar'-e-a (strong), Desvaux. 



A very distinct and deservedly-popular, stove species, also known in 

 gardens as G. dealbata, native of Tropical America. Its fronds are oblong- 

 triangular, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to 12in. broad, and borne on firm stalks 

 6in. to 12in. long, of a dark chestnut-brown colour, and scaly towards the 

 base. They are twice divided nearly 

 (not quite, as appears to be the 

 case in Fig. 71) to the midrib ; of 

 the numerous spear-shaped leaflets, 

 the lowest are the largest (Fig. 71), 

 and all are divided into oblong, 

 blunt leafits, entire or nearly so, of 

 a heavy, dull green colour on their 

 upper surface, but entirely covered 

 beneath with a coating of pure 

 snowy-white, farinose powder. The 

 abundant narrow spore masses are 

 disposed along the mid vein, eventually 

 becoming confluent ; and being of 

 a very dark colour, as well as the 

 stalks, form a striking contrast with 

 the pure white under- side of the 

 fronds. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 v., p. 148. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 105. Lowe, Ferns 

 British and Exotic, i., t. 3. 



According to Baker, this species is very variable, and several Ferns 

 which are usually considered as distinct species, on account of the golden 

 colour of their under- side or of some other distinctive character, are by him 

 retained as only varietal forms of G. tartarea ; such are the following : 



Fi^. 7h Gymnogramme tartarea 

 (much reduced). 



G. t. OChracea — o-chra'-ce-a (yellow), Fresl. 



This differs essentially from the species to which it is held to be related 

 through the bright yellow colour of the under-side of its fronds, which have 

 pinnules (leafits) very regular and only the lowest distinctly toothed. It is 



