MELIANTHUS, HONEY-FLOWER, in botany: A genus of the angiosperma order, belonging to the didynamia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 24th order Corydales. The calyx is pentaphyllous, with the lowermost leaf gibbous: there are four petals, with the nectarium under the lowest ones. The capsule is quadrilocular. There are two species. 1. The major hath a thick, ligneous, spreading root; many upright, ligneous, durable stalks, rising six or eight feet high; garnished with large pinnated leaves, of four or five pair of serrated lobes terminated by an odd one; and, from the sides and tops of the stalks, long spikes of chocolate-coloured flowers. 2. The minor hath a root like the former; upright, ligneous, soft, durable stalks, rising four or five feet high; garnished with smaller pinnated leaves; and from the sides and ends of the branches, long, loose, pendulous bunches of flowers tinged with green, saffron colour, and red.—Both the species flower about June: but rarely produce seeds in this country. They are very ornamental, both in foliage and flower, and merit admittance in every collection. They are easily propagated by suckers and cuttings. They thrive best in a dry soil, and in a sheltered warm exposure.