A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
219 
Gl^KlCHKNlA—contimied. 
habit; it is distinct from most other plants of the same 
section through the leathery texture of its foliage and the 
reddish-purple tint or prune-colour of the stalks of its 
fronds. There is a pretty variety in G. r. glaucescens, in 
which the fronds are of the same dimensions as in the 
type, but their leafy portion is of thicker texture, and 
their glaucous colour, besides being more conspicuous, is 
not confined to the under-part only, but spreads all over 
the surface, and forms a striking contrast with the reddish- 
purple tint of the stalks. 
GONIOPHLEBIUM. See Polypodium. 
GONIOPTERIS. See Polypodium. 
GYMNOGRAMME, 
This somewliat extensive genus contains the 
majority of what are popularly known as the Gold 
and Silver Ferns, the under-side of the foliage of 
many of them being covered with farina of a colour 
varying from the purest white to shades of yellow. 
Sometimes plants are found that bear fronds suf- 
fused with white and yellow powder at the same 
time : this may frequently be observed in forms 
derived from the calomelanos type, which also some- 
times produce fronds provided with the usual 
covering on one half, whereas the other portion is 
quite destitute of such powder. In some species the 
powder is practically confined to the ,stalks — in (?. 
decomposita (Fig. 92) for instance. 
The distinctive characters of the genus reside 
in the naked nature and in the disposition of the 
sori, which arise from the veins of the under-surface 
of the fronds ; in their f orm^ which is linear or linear- 
oblong, and either simple or forked; and in their 
being irregularly scattered over the entire under- 
surface of the fronds. They are situated along the 
veins between the base and the apex, and usually 
occupy almost the whole length of the minor veins. 
After a time they become confluent, and when this 
occurs the proper distribution and arrangement of 
the spore masses are no longer apparent. The genus 
as it is now accepted embraces many plants which 
formerly were classed under different generic names, 
