CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 2] 9 



of its flowers, even while it is in flower, into the bosom 

 of the earth, that I cannot but think this very peculiarity 

 could not possibly have escaped the observation of its 

 first explorers, who could not be so deficient in their way 

 of imposing names, as to neglect such a remarkable note, 

 so signal a characteristic in the composition of its title, 

 as alone might serve to distinguish it from all the Terra 

 Jilii and Trefoils in the world. After this manner it was 

 that the famous Dr. Magnol accommodated his name for 

 it ; so did Dr. Morison his, who indeed pretended to be 

 the first discoverer of it, or at least assigned it to his 

 princely patron, whose badge {Gastonium) was annexed 

 unto its other titles in memory of its first invention, 

 though I find it (yet still by names expressive of this 

 peculiar) in authors before him, as hi Vallot, Joncquet, 

 and other catalogue writers, before that of the ' Garden 

 of Blois,' by Morison, had any being in the world ; so 

 that I only hence infer that, had the authors of the 

 ' Phyt. Brit.,' or the most learned J. Bauhine (but he 

 saw not the growing plant), in their denominations in- 

 tended the subterranean trefoil, they would not have 

 contented themselves with lodging their discriminating 

 character upon the flowers alone (that are intercommon 

 with others of the same genus), but would certainly have 

 taken along with them this wonderful property, which, 

 while the plant was flowering, could hardly have evaded 

 their notice ; and therefore I presume they understood 

 by those stated names no other than the Trif. oimitltojjod. 

 siliq. [T. ornithopodioides, Linn.], which they might 

 observe in flower, not heeding the pods ; or perhaps find- 

 ing the plant before it was podded, they were content to 

 transmit such a diversity in its name as was derivative 

 only from its flowers. Both these pretty trefoils grew in 

 great abundance in Tothill Fields, by Westminster. 



Page 145. The Alsine tetrapetalos caryojjliijlloides 

 quibmdam Holost. minim., D. Rap. \_Mcenchla erecta, 

 Pers.J, that grows frequently about London in upland 

 pastures, is very difi'erent, in my opinion, from the Alsine 



