276 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



of its fronds, and its general aspect being so many characters peculiar to 

 this species only. Its fronds, of a somewhat climbing nature, 2ft. to 3ft. 

 long, and 4in. to Sin. broad, are borne on stout, upright stalks 4in. to 6in. 



long, of a dark chestnut-brown 

 colour, and scaly at their lower 

 part. The lower leaflets are tri- 

 foliate (having three leaflets), the 

 upper ones are simple (Fig. 72), 

 and all are distinctly stalked, 

 2m, to 4in. long, narrow -oblong, 

 and with nearly or quite entire 

 edges, and of a soft, papery tex- 

 ture. The upper surface is of a 

 dull, dark green colour ; the 

 under-side — usually naked in the 

 barren fronds — is clothed in the 

 fertile ones with a farinose 

 powder varying from the purest 

 white to a lemon-colour. The 

 abundant sori (spore masses), dis- 

 posed on each side of the midvein, 

 are very consj)icuous. — Hooker.^ 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 149. Nichol- 

 son., Dictionary of Gardening., ii., 

 p. 105, Loive^ Neio and Bare 

 Ferns, t. 31. 



C. trifoliata is a robust grower, 

 and under liberal treatment and 

 when grown in such a place that its gradually -extending fronds can be 

 trained near the glass of the roof, it forms a very picturesque object. 



Fi^. 72. Gymnogramme trifoliata 

 (much reduced). 



G. (Eugymnogramme) vestita — Eu-gym-nog-ram'-me ; ves-ti'-ta 

 (clothed), Hooker. 



This most distinct species, native of Pekin and the North-Western 

 Himalayas, where it is found up to 8000ft. elevation, succeeds equally well 



