FLOWERING PLANTS. 199 
ground in the central and southern parts of the island. A specimen 
in Gosselin’s herbarium is labelled ‘Grows on the hedges,’ but no 
locality is specified. 
Avena strigosa, Schreb. Black Oat. 
Casual. First record: Marquand, 1892. 
Rare. I found a plant near the Vale Road Nurseries in 1892, 
but have not met with it since. But its general resemblance to the 
cultivated Oat would cause it to escape notice. 
(Avena pubescens, L., occurs in Alderney.) 
Arrhenatherum elatius, M. & K. False Oat Grass. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Rather common in all districts. The var. xodosum (A. bulbosum, 
Presl.) is the prevailing form. In Alderney the type is far more 
common than the variety. A specimen in Gosselin’s herbarium is 
labelled Avena pratensis, to which a note is added: ‘ Has a bulbous 
root and grows on the hedges.’ 
Triodia decumbens, Beauv. Fleath Grass. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Rather common generally. Abundant on the cliffs in some 
places, and in parts of Lancresse Common; occasionally in hedges 
and pastures inland. ‘There are specimens in Gosselin’s herbarium. 
Koeleria cristata, Pers. Crested Hatr Grass. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Local. Occurs here and there on the sandhills and in sandy 
grassy places all along the coast from Vazon Bay to Lancresse. 
Most of the Guernsey plant seems to be the var. al/bescens, DC. It 
is the Poa cristata of Gosselin, a specimen of which is preserved in 
his herbarium. 
Molinia caerulea, Moench. Purple Melic Grass. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Rare. Grande Mare, plentiful in places. Scattered clumps 
between Lower Rohais and Friquet Chapel. Small furze-croft 
between Capelles and Noirmont. Abundant in a furze-croft near 
Hougue du Pommier. Cliffs towards Corbiere. Copse near King’s 
Mills (Andrews) There is a specimen in Gosselin’s herbarium 
named Azra distans, but without locality. 
This grass is of comparatively no agricultural value: cows 
seldom eat it, and wherever found in a meadow it indicates want of 
drainage. The stems are sold by tobacconists for cleaning pipes, 
and in some places are used as a substitute for bristles in brooms. 
