196 GUERNSEY. 
whatever about its being truly native in this island. Mr. Andrews 
has given a full description and figure of the plant, together with 
notes on its Continental distribution, in Journ. Bot., 1900, p. 33. 
Phragmites communis, Trin. Common Reed. 
Native. First record: Gosselin, 1815. 
Generally distributed and common in marshes and swampy 
corners of meadows: often at the base of the cliffs in the south. 
Called in Normandy by the name of és. In the opinion of 
Dr. Prior this was the plant called Speargrass in Henry JV., Part I., 
act li. sc. 4, which was ‘to tickle our noses to make them bleed,’ 
but it seems more probable that the species signified was Yarrow 
(Achillea Millefolium), which, according to Parkinson (in 1640) 
was ‘called of some JVosebleed, from making the nose bleede if it 
be put into it.’ It is said that a roof thatched with reeds is much 
more durable than one of straw, and will last eighty years. 
Psamma arenaria, R. & S. Sea Reed. Marram. 
Native. First record: Babington, 1839. 
Locally abundant on the north-west coast from Cobo to Grandes 
Rocques and Portinfer. It is remarkable that we have in these 
islands no trace of Liymus arenartus, a grass which is found 
plentifully on the opposite shores of France, often growing in 
company with the present species, which it somewhat resembles. 
In Normandy Marram is known by the name of A@//egreux, and 
is much used for making brooms and straw hats. Its far-creeping 
roots have an amazing power in binding together the loose, drifting 
sands of our coasts, so that it should always be carefully preserved. 
At one time it was forbidden by Act of Parliament to gather this 
grass; and in Holland its destruction is a penal offence. 
Calamagrostis Epigeios, Roth. Wood Smaltreed. 
Native. First record: Babington, 1839. 
Very rare. In an old quarry at Les Gigands, Baubigny, plentiful 
in 1891. In plenty at Bec du Nez in 1899 (Andrews). It is re- 
corded in /V. Sarn. for the cliffs beyond the Artillery Barracks at 
Fort George, where very likely it still occurs. 
(Apera Spica-venti, Beauv. is noted for Guernsey in the list 
given in Ansted’s Channel Islands, but there is no confirmatory 
evidence of its occurrence.) 
Agrostis canina, L. Brown Bent Grass. 
Native. First record: Marquand, 1891. 
Common in meadows at the west of the island, especially near 
Rocquaine. 
Prior says that the name Sent Grass signifies any wiry grass, 
