84 GUERNSEY. 
Gerarde says that the plant ‘being put into wine, it yieldeth 
a certaine grace in the drinking, making the heart merrie and 
glad.’ 
(Agrimonia Eupatoria, L., Common Agrimony, occurs in Alder- 
ney and Sark.) 
Agrimonia odorata, Mill. Scented Agrimony. 
Native. First record: Marquand, 1891. 
Rare. Saints Bay Valley and cliffs. Cliffs below Calais. Petit 
Port cliffs. West end of Chemin le Roi (1v.). Lane from Upper 
Catel Road to Lower Rohais. Near the Catel Hospital. Roadside 
at Les Marchais (v1.). Not quite typical, I think, but always lemon- 
scented. 
Agrimony was one of the favourite plants of the old herbalists, 
being employed by them in various ways for many ailments. 
Gerarde tells us that ‘a decoction of the leaves is good for them 
that have naughty livers ;’ and we still hear of Agrimony ‘tea’ in the 
rural districts. 
Alchemilla arvensis, Scop. Parsley Piert. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Common throughout the island in dry places. It is the Aphanes 
arvensts of Gosselin’s list. 
The old English name was /ercepier, from the French jevce 
pierre, so called from its supposed lithotriptic properties. By 
corruption this word became Pwrsdey-piert and subsequently Parsley 
Piert. Gerarde recommends this little plant for its ‘many good 
vertues,’ among others the removing of freckles, spots, pimples, and 
sunburning. 
Potentilla anserina, L. Silverweed. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Generally distributed and rather common on damp roadsides 
and moist ground. A form with the upper side of the leaves 
densely silky and silvery (var. sericea, Koch) occurs at St. Andrew’s. 
It is the prevailing form in Alderney. 
The French name Argentine corresponds with our English 
Silverweed. The roots, which are said to taste like parsnips, are 
often eaten in the Hebrides, being simply prepared by roasting or 
boiling. 
Potentilla reptans, L. Creeping Cinquefotl. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Rather common at the north of the island: less so in the low- 
lying parts of St. Saviour’s and the Catel. This species does not 
seem to occur, or only rarely, in the southern districts. 
