a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the monandra class of plants. It has its name from the celebrated Herman Boerhaave, physician at Leyden. There are six species, all natives of the Indies. Some of these plants rise five or six feet high, but most of them only 18 inches or two feet. They carry flowers of a yellow or red colour, but are by no means so remarkable as to merit any particular description.