CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 391 



The sharpness of the weather, and unusual continuance 

 of it, doth so affect my legs, that I am scarce able to 

 attend any studies, and hath much retarded my proceed- 

 ings, fixing me constantly to the fireside. I shall add 

 no more but prayers for a blessing upon your laudable 

 endeavours, and thanks for your constant affection to, 



Sir, 

 Yours in all offices of love and service, 



JOHN RAY. 



Black Notley, April 4, 1701. 



Dcntaria afflnis annulets, H. R. P. Herbe cachce on clan- 

 destine de Leon, Lugd. edit. Gall. 960. 

 Clandestina Jlore albo, Bonetti Obs. 30, cent. 1. 



DESCRIPTIONEM hujus plantae ex ' Histor. Lugd.' ita 

 Suppl. Herbam hunc Clandestinam sen occultam denomi- 

 navi, quod folia producat sub terra latitantia, qua3 mem- 

 branacea sunt, alba, fungis illis siinilia, qui super arbores 

 vetustas nascuntur, suntque semper virida, nee unquam 

 decidunt una constipata ad modum pomi pinel. Radix 

 pedali circiter longitudine est, tenuis seu tenella,spongiosa, 

 fiavicans, medullam seu cor intus habens parvum et vclut 

 lignosum plantum hanc primo vidi florentem ad Pan- 

 corvu dioceseos Purgensis, anno 1578, loco huniido ad 

 viam publicam non procul Fontibus Hontoria3, qui 

 exeunta fluminc Mirandam del Ebro praeter labente, 

 postea vidi innumeras prope Leovera comitatus Pernia? 

 in foresta la Dehesa, dicta ubi planta haac probe cognita 

 est nomine Madronna3, hoc est, matricis kerbax, eo quod 

 mirabiliter conducit ad humiditatem et oppilationem 

 uteri ut experientia longa didici, tarn folia ipsum flores 

 amara sunt, sed praecipue flores, qui nonnihil ctiani 

 acrimonia obtinent. 



