128 GUERNSE Y. 
Fraxinus excelsior, L. Common Ash. 
Native. First record: Babington, 1839. 
A common tree throughout the island. 
Called in Guernsey by the ordinary French name /7éne. Gilbert. 
White, of Selborne, records that in his parish, in former times, 
‘ash-trees; when young and flexible, were severed and held open by 
wedges, while ruptured children, stripped naked, were pushed 
through the apertures, under a persuasion that by such a process 
the poor babes would be cured of their infirmity. As soon as the 
operation was over, the tree in the suffering part was plastered with 
loam, and carefully swathed up. If the parts coalesced and soldered 
together, as usually fell out where the feat was performed with any 
adroitness at all, the party was cured; but, where the cleft continued 
to gape, the operation, it was supposed, would prove ineffectual.’ 
The same practice was prevalent in some parts of Cornwall down to 
comparatively recent times. 
APOCYNACEAE. 
Vinca major, L. Greater Periwinkle, 
Alien. First record: Marquand, 1891. 
Naturalised on the cliffs above Fort Bay, and on the cliffs at 
Moulin Huet. Also occurs on two banks at Icart Point, at Fermain,. 
and at Calais. This plant is a native of southern Europe, but has. 
long been cultivated for ornament, and is now found apparently wild 
in many parts of England. In these latitudes, however, it rarely, if 
ever, ripens its seed. ‘ 
_ The patois name is Pervenche, the same as in French. Chaucer,. 
and other old English poets, call it Pervinke or Pervenke, and this. 
word has become corrupted into Per7winkle. 
GENTIANACEAE. 
Erythraea pulchella, Fr. Slender Centaury. 
Native. First record: Babington, 1839. 
Rare. Marshy spot on the coast close to Fort Houmet. Wet 
field adjoining Ivy Castle. Sparingly amongst G/awx on the shore 
by Grandes Rocques Head. By the Vale pond, one plant, and on 
Lancresse Common, one plant (Andrews). A slender form, un- 
branched, an inch or two high (probably var. Swartziana, Wittr.), 
occurs plentifully in a sandy hollow at Albecq. 
Erythraea Centaurium, Pers. Common Centaury. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. tsa 
Common in all parts of the island in suitable places. I have 
seen it in blossom on the cliffs as late as the end of December. Mr. 
Andrews has found it with white flowers at Rocquaine, and a note is. 
