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 yom^ 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. 



Dentaria qfflnis annulos, H. R. P. Herhe cachee ou clan- 

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

 Clandestina flore albo, Bonelli Obs. 30, cent. 1. 



Descriptionem hujus plantse ex ' Histor. Lugd.' ita 

 Suppl. Herbam hunc Clandestinam sen occultam denomi- 

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

 branacea sunt, alba, fungis illis similia, 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, 

 flavicans, medullam seu cor intus habens parvum et velut 

 lignosum plantum hanc primo vidi florentem ad Pan- 

 corvi^i dioceseos Purgensis, anno 1578, loco humido ad 

 viam publicam non procul Pontibus Hontorise, qui 

 exeunta flumiue Mirandam del Ebro preeter labente, 

 postea vidi innumeras prope Leovera comitatus Perniae 

 in foresta la Dehesa, dicta ubi planta hsec probe cognita 

 est nomine Madronnse, hoc est, matricis herbse, eo quod 

 mirabiliter conducit ad humiditatem et oppilationem 

 uteri ut experientia longa didici, tam folia ipsum flores 

 amara sunt, sed prsecipac flores, qui nonnihil etiani 

 acrimonia obtinent. 



