94 GUERNSEY. 
stance that, according to Dioscorides, ‘ Circe, an enchantress, expert 
in herbs, used it as a tempting powder in amorous concerns.’ 
The French name, Herbe aux magiciennes, is very similar to our 
English one. 
HALORAGACEAE. 
Myriophyllum spicatum, L. Spiked Water Milfoil. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
This species is mixed with JZ. alternifiorum in two different 
packets in Gosselin’s old herbarium, the whole being labelled 
Myriophyllum verticillatum: but no localities are specified. I have 
no other evidence of the occurrence of this plant in the island. 
' Myriophyllum alterniflorum, DC. Alternateflowered 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. | Water Milfoil. 
Rare. Small pool between Coutanchez and Baubigny, and 
pool below a large quarry heap at Baubigny. Quarry pool towards 
Fort Le Marchant. In 72. Sarn. it is recorded for ditches to the 
north of Ivy Castle, where very likely it is still to be found. Gosselin 
gives in his list AZ. verticillatum,. but the specimens so labelled in 
his herbarium consist of the present species and M. spicatum 
intermixed. 
*Hippuris vulgaris, L. Mare’s-tate. 
Extinct. 
This is one of the plants that have long since ceased to exist im 
Guernsey owing to the drainage of marsh land. It is mentioned in 
Gosselin’s list, and a specimen is preserved in his herbarium gathered 
in a ‘marsh on the west of Pleinheaume.’ At Longy Pond, in 
Alderney, this species grows in profusion. Babington does not. 
mention it in F/. Sarn. 
PORTULACEAE. 
Montia fontana, L. Llinks. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Frequent on the southern cliffs, growing near springs and in 
damp spots. Scattered about Lancresse Common and near Fort 
Doyle. Roadside towards Torteval Church. Var. rivularis, 
Gmel. A form six or eight inches high occurs in a roadside 
streamlet at Les Marais, towards Richmond, and near the Trinity 
Houses, Rocquaine. 
The origin of the name Bizxks has not been satisfactorily ex- 
plained, for we cannot seriously accept the derivation suggested by 
Prior (Pop. Names Brit. Pi.) that the plant is ‘so called from its. 
half-closed little white flowers peering from the axils of the upper 
leaves, as if afraid of the light.’ 
