GYMNOGRAMME. 



277 



in either stove or greenhouse temperature. Its elegant fronds, 6in. to 

 12in. long, lin. to IJin. broad, and simply pinnate (only once divided to the 

 midrib), are borne on wiry stalks 3in. to 6in. long and densely clothed with 

 more or less matted, bright rasty-brown scales of 

 a very soft, silky nature. The pinnte (leaflets) are 

 sometimes disposed in pairs and opposite, but are 

 more frequently arranged in an alternate manner, 

 and in either case are set close to the midrib with 

 a little space between each ; they are entire 

 (undivided), bluntish, and oblong, or sometimes 

 heart-shaped at the base ; though of a thick texture, 

 they are of a flaccid nature, and are covered on 

 both sides with fine, velvety hairs, that are silvery 

 in the young fronds, but of a rusty-brown colour 

 in fully -developed specimens. The abundant sori 

 (spore masses) are usually forked, and are disposed 

 over the whole of the under- surface. Fig. 73 is 

 reduced from Col, Beddome's " Ferns of British 

 India," by the kind permission of the author. ^ — • 

 Hooker^ Species Filicwm, v., p. 143. Beddome, 

 Ferns of British I?idia, t. 15-1. 



G. (Leptogramme) Yillosa — Lep-tog-ram'-me ; 

 vil-lo'-sa (shaggy). Link. 

 A very distinct, stove species, native of Brazil, 

 with fronds Ift. to IJft. long, Gin. to lOin. broad, 

 bipinnatiiid (twice divided half-way to the midrib), 

 and borne on firm, erect stalks Gin. to 9in. long, 

 densely clothed with soft, spreadmg, greyish hairs. 

 The leaflets, 3in. to oin. long and fin. broad, 



are cut rather more than half-way down into nearly sickle-shaped, entire 

 (undivided) lobes, which are narrowed at the base ; they are of a soft, j^apery 

 texture, and densely shaggy on both surfaces. The oblong sori (spore masses) 

 occupy an oblique position in the lower part of each lobe. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 37G. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, i., t. 11. 



Fig. 73, Gymnogramme vestita 

 (I nafc. size). 



