FLOWERING PLANTS. 117 
St. Helena (11.). Les Falaises and near Les Villets (Iv.). Paysans 
Road and Les Marchais (v1.). Near Bordeaux Harbour. 
In French A/hanasie, now contracted to Zanacte and Tanazsie, 
whence our English name. Three centuries ago this plant used to 
be sold in England under the name of Azhanasia, the Greek word 
for immortality ; and an old writer says it was so called because the 
oil or juice extracted from it would preserve a dead body from 
putrefaction. ‘Tansy was formerly much eaten in Lent, as the repre- 
sentative of the bitter herbs; and Tansy pudding used to be a 
favourite dish. 
Senecio vulgaris, L. Common Groundsel, 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Very common everywhere. Var. radiatus, Koch. Western 
end of Vazon Green. Perelle Bay. Sablons and Lerée. Rocquaine 
Bay. Mr. Andrews notes this variety as plentiful all along the south 
cliffs. 
The patois name is Svichon, a corruption of the French Sevegon, 
which, like Sevecio, is derived from the Latin sezex, an old man, 
It was thus named, we are told, ‘because the flower of this herbe 
hath white hair, and when the winde bloweth it away, then it 
appeareth like a bald-headed man.’ 
Senecio sylvaticus, L. Mountain Groundsel, 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Common throughout the island on dry banks and waste spots, 
especially near the sea. Abundant on the cliffs. Specimens in 
Gosselin’s herbarium show that he named this species S. v7scosus. 
Senecio erucifolius, L. Hoary Ragwort. 
Casual. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Very rare. One plant on the shingle at Lerée Bay in 1890. 
One in Rocquaine Bay in 1898 (Miss B. Agnew). The name is in 
Gosselin’s list, but there is no specimen in his herbarium. 
Senecio Jacobaea, L. Common Ragwort. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Very common in meadows and pastures, and on waste ground 
Var. flosculosus, Jord. One plant in Petit Bot Valley in 1898 
(Miss B. Agnew). 
Called in the patois M/égue, a word which also signifies the wick 
of a lamp or candle (French, méche). Métivier thinks the plant 
takes its name from the silky pappus of the fruit, which might serve 
for wicks: but this explanation is hardly satisfactory. ‘The French 
name of the plant is /acodée. 
Senecio aquaticus, Huds. Marsh Ragwort. 
Native. First record: Marquand, 1891. 
Rare. Marshy fields near Ivy Castle. Wet meadows near Les 
