TELEPHIUM, TRUE ORPINE, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of pentandria, and order of trigynia; and in the natural system ranging under the 54th order, Miscellanea. The calyx is pentaphyllous; there are five petals, which are inserted into the receptacle; the capsule is unilocular and trivalvular. There are two species, the imperialis and oppositifolia.