SPHERANTHUS, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of syngenesia, and to the order of polycarpia segregata; and in the natural system arranged under the 49th order, Composita. Each partial calyx contains eight florets; the florets are tubulated, the female being scarcely distinguishable. The receptacle is scaly; and there is no pappus. The species are three, the indicus, africanus, and chinensis.