50 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



but although many kinds, especially amongst Polypodiums, are very prolific, 

 none equal in brilliancy the beautiful Onychiurn auratum, which rightly 

 deserves a prominent place among Golden Ferns. This really beautiful and 

 robust-growing species, which thrives best in the warm-house with an 

 abundance of moisture, is a native of the East Indies, where it is said 

 to attain very large dimensions. It is a Pteris-habited Fern, with foliage 

 extremely light and feathery, and there is no exaggeration in saying that 

 when its robust, triangular, fertile fronds are fully developed and become 

 mature, nothing, even among Gymnogrammes, can be more handsomely 

 golden. These are all the more conspicuous in that they consist of linear 

 segments, the upper surface of which is bright green, and contrasts 

 pleasantly with the rich colour of their under side, adorned as it is by a 

 massive indusium of a very bright yellow, which gives to the whole plant 

 a pretty and interesting appearance. 



Although the group under notice is a comparatively small one, it 

 comprises representatives of several genera, among which the Gymnogrammes 

 occupy the first and the largest place ; and, as they are about the most 

 variable of all the cultivated kinds of exotic Ferns, it follows that both the 

 silver and the gold colours of the under side of their fronds, which form 

 their principal attraction, vary greatly in intensity, as, out of a quantity of 

 seedlings, varieties showing almost every shade of white, lemon, and golden- 

 yellow powder may be obtained. They also vary as much as regards size as 

 they do in colours, for whereas among the Golden section, the charming dwarf 

 G. sulphured, whose delicate fronds are covered on both surfaces with powder 

 of a pale yellow colour, seldom exceeds Sin. in height, such varieties as 

 G. calomelanos chrysophylla, G. c. c. Marte?isi, G. c. c. Laucheana, G. c. c. 

 g.igantea, &c, produce fronds which frequently attain oft. in length. Several 

 other golden forms of Gymnogramme, of garden origin, distinct from one 

 another, as also from the original species, in their habit, or in the colour 

 of their powder, are equally strong growers. Among these the most 

 distinct is, perhaps, G. c. c. Alstoni, which is a really handsome and 

 attractive plant, and which, at the same time, may be regarded as one 

 of the greatest curiosities in the whole Fern family. It is an excellent 

 grower, of the Laucheana type, with broad, triangular fronds, supported 

 on stalks of medium length, thus making a Capital specimen. The 



