MELISSA, Baum, a genus of plants, belonging to the didynamia class; and in the natural method ranking under the 42d order, Verticillate. See BOTANY Index.
MELISSUS of SAMOS, a Greek philosopher, was the son of Rhagines and the disciple of Parmenides; and lived about 440 B. C. He pretended that the universe is infinite, immovable, and without a vacuum. Themistocles was among his pupils.