176 GUERNSEY. 
scarcely a blossom can be found; in others it is very fine, as in 1894 
at Grande Mare, when some of the spikes had ten or twelve flowers 
each. The plants are as a rule small, seldom more than six inches 
high, often less. 
IRIDACEAE. 
Iris Pseud-acorus, L. Yellow Flag. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Common throughout the island in marshy field corners and wet 
places. 
The patois name in Guernsey, as in Normandy, is Glajeur or 
Glajeux, closely allied to the French G/aieu/, and all derived from 
the Latin g/adius, in allusion to the sword-shaped leaves. This 
plant was formerly held in high repute m medicine ; and we are told 
that ‘it doth mightilie and vehementlie draw forth choler.’ 
Iris foetidissima, L. Stinking Iris. Gladdon. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Generally distributed throughout the island, but rather rare. 
Babington is certainly wrong in describing it as ‘common in 
Guernsey.’ Occurs on many parts of the cliffs, especially at St. 
Martin’s. In autumn the brilliant orange-scarlet seeds in the open 
capsules are very striking. 
Known in Normandy under the name of Géaz, and generally in 
France as /ris Gigot. The leaves when bruised exhale an extremely 
disagreeable odour, which has been compared by some imaginative 
people to the smell of roast meat; hence one of its English names 
Roast beef plant. 
Romulea Columnae, Seb. & Maur. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Common all round the coast in dry exposed spots ; abundant on 
the cliffs. Flowers from the last week in March to the middle of 
April, but the flowers are more plentiful some seasons than others. 
It is the Zxia bulbocodium of Gosselin’s list. 
The patois name, according to Métivier, is Gévozte, which, from 
his derivation, signifies earthnut; and he says, ‘Les oignons de 
cette plante se mangaient autrefois comme des chataignes.’ One 
might suspect some confusion between this species and Carum 
fiexuosum (which is called Génotte in Normandy), but for the fact 
that the latter plant is too rare in Guernsey to have received a local 
name. 
AMARYLLIDACEAE. 
Narcissus biflorus, Curt. Two-flowered Narcissus. 
Alien. First record: Marquand, 1891. 
Very rare. Plentiful in a waste corner above the road at Fort 
