STALAGMITIS, in botany: A genus of the monandria order, belonging to the poligamia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 38th order, Tricocca. The calyx is either quadrifolious or hexaphyllous;
hexaphyllous; the corolla consists of four or of six petals: the receptacle is fleshy, and somewhat square-shaped; the filaments about 30. In the hermaphrodite flower the stylus is short, thick, and erect; the fruit is a berry of a globular shape, unilocular, and crowned with the stylus and stigma: they contain three oblong jointed triangular seeds. Of this there is only one species, viz. the Gambogioides, a native of the East Indies and of the warmer parts of America. From this plant is obtained the gutta gambogia, or gum gamboge of the shops. See GAMBGE.
Till very lately botanists were at a loss for the true nature of the plant which yields this gum. Koenig, a native of Ireland, and an excellent botanist, travelled over a great part of India, and collected a great number of new plants, and among the rest the stalachmites. These he bequeathed to Sir Joseph Banks president of the Royal Society.