This genus contains handsome Ferns, with naked and narrow clusters of spores and free-forked veins. Some of the kinds have the under surface of the fronds densely covered with a white floury powder, others with a golden powder, hence the popular names. Unfortunately this gold and silver powder suffers a good deal when plants are taken to market; hence there is not such a trade done in Gymnogrammes as their beauty would warrant. They grow well in a compost of fibrous peat, leaf mould, and silver sand, and as a rule like a fair amount of light and a well-ventilated house with a dryish atmosphere. The best market varieties are such forms of the Tropical American G. calomelanos as Alstoni, Martensi, and 0. peruviana argyrophylla, to which may be added G. tartarea ochracea, G. pulchella Wettenhalliana, and G. schizophylla (fig. 312).

Fig. 812. - Gymnogramme schizophylla.