BÆCKEA, in botany: A genus of the oestrandia order, belonging to the monogynia class of plants. The calyx is a permanent perianthium, consisting of a single funnel-shaped leaf, cut into five segments at the brim; the corolla consists of five roundish spreading petals inserted into the calyx; the pericarpium is a globose capsule, made up of four valves, and containing four cells, in which are a few roundish angular seeds.