Sea bean Macuna sloanei
Sea bean, horse-eye bean – Macuna sloanei, with a letter of identification from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh dated 12.6.06 (letter in Filing Cabinet 8 drawer 4). The seed of a tropical plant carried north on the Gulf Stream and washed up on Tiree’s shore.
Photocopied extracts about sea-beans.
Three short extracts from books about sea-beans – seeds of a tropical plant carried north on the Gulf Stream and washed up on Tiree’s shore.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 377, 7/10/2006.
Local news and events including the visit to Finland by Tiree delegates, an update from Tiree Community Trust, the Wave Classic, article by Councillor Ian Gillies, a new piping trophy, coconuts and basking sharks, the results of the scarecrow competition and news from the WRI and RSPB.
Hardback book `A Garden of Herbs` by Agnes Walker.
Traditional uses of herbs in Scotland.
De-accessioned 20.3.2026.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 367, 29/4/2006.
Local news and events including the Youth Club award night, RSPB information, ragwort control, the programme for A` Bhuain and news from Tiree Rural Development and WRI.
Ten colour photographs of Tiree wild flowers.
Ten colour photographs of Tiree wild flowers, photographed by Claudia Ferguson-Smyth in 2005.
Journal extract `The Gulf Stream Coconut` by Hugh C Harries and William J Baker, plus edition of journal.
Article about coconuts found on beaches on Tiree.
Comb-bound book `Exploring Morvern` by the members and friends of Morvern Heritage Society.
A celebration of the history and natural history of Morvern.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 352, 17/9/2005.
Local news and events including a photo of this year`s Primary 1, an article about coconuts washed ashore on Tiree and letters to the editor about `wild` camping and locked gates.
Bàrr a’ chinn
Photograph of sea pinks.
‘Barr a’ chinn’ (top of the head) was a common disease affecting children on Tiree, although not found elsewhere, and was usually caused by a fright. The child would become pale, listless and lose his or her appetite. It was said the condition was caused by the descent of two bones in the roof of the mouth.
There were two cures, physical and herbal. In the physical cure, the healer’s index and middle finger or thumb were pressed against the roof of the mouth, pushing the ‘bones’ back. This is remembered as being quite painful.
The herbal treatment used the plant sea pink, known locally as ‘barr a’ chinn’. This was collected on the day of the treatment, dried by the fire then put into a small cotton or linen bag which was sewn onto the patient’s vest. Both treatments were accompanied by a rhyme.
Colour photograph of sea pinks.
Clump of thrift or sea pink, known locally as bàrr a’ chinn, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000. It was used in a traditional cure for a disease affecting children on Tiree, also known as bàrr a’ chinn, which was not found elsewhere. The child would become pale, listless and lose their appetite, usually after a fright. It was believed that the condition was caused by the descent of two bones in the roof of the mouth.
