FLOWERING PLANTS. 171 
and Babington merely says ‘In damp hedges, probably planted,’ 
without specifying any locality. 
Submerged in water, the wood of this tree is almost indestructible. 
Bog alder, or wood that has long lain in peat-mosses, is as black as 
ebony, for which it is often substituted; but it may be detected by 
its want of lustre. 
Fagus sylvatica, L. Beech. 
Denizen or Native. First record: Babington, 1839. 
Occasional in different parts of the island, but by no means 
common. Fine trees are to be seen in the valley behind Les 
Vauxbelets (11.) and in a few other places: so, if it is true that 
beech-mast has been found in the submarine beds at Vazon, this tree 
may be truly native. 
On the Continent the dry dead leaves have long been used for 
stuffing beds, and the fragrance which the leaves retain is very refresh- 
ing and invigorating. The variety called the Purple Beech was dis- 
covered in a wood in Germany a century and a half ago, and from it 
all the purple Beeches in Europe have been propagated. 
Castanea vulgaris, Lam. Sweet Chestnut. 
Alien. First record: Babington, 1839. 
Rare. Hardly entitled to a place in the Flora, as the existing 
trees have all been planted, and, except in private grounds, few are 
sufficiently large to bear fruit. Occasionally found in hedges as a 
small bush. 
Quercus Robur, L. Oak. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
A rather common tree in all parts, but seldom or never attaining 
very large dimensions, though well-grown symmetrical examples 
are occasionally to be seen. Var. pedunculata, Ehrh., is the common 
form: var. sessz/iflora, Salisb., only occurs as a, planted tree. 
The Oak is called in the patois Qzéne, as it is in Normandy. The 
Evergreen or Holm Oak (Quercus Jlex), which grows well in 
Guernsey, is a native of southern Europe, and was introduced into 
England about the middle of the sixteenth century. It is a tree of 
extraordinary duration, continuing to grow for many centuries,.and 
seems to thrive best when planted within the influence of the sea- 
breeze. There are many fine examples in this island. 
Corylus Avellana, L. Hazel. 
Native. First record: Babington, 18309. 
Very rare, and now almost extinct. Two large trees in the copse 
on the hillside between Moulin de Haut and King’s Mills. Two or 
three large trees in a copse in the valley west of St. Saviour’s 
Church. In these two localities the Hazel appears to be perfectly 
wild. I have seen nuts and branches found in the submerged peat 
