in botany; a genus of the polyandria order, belonging to the dioecia class of plants. There are three species, all of them natives of Africa; so require to be kept in a greenhouse when cultivated in this country. Their flowers make no great appearance; but the plants themselves are very ornamental evergreens. They grow to the height of four or five feet; and are propagated by cuttings, which must be young shoots of five or six inches length. If these are planted in pots in spring or summer, and plunged in a hot-bed, they will readily take root. They must be watered plentifully in summer, but very sparingly in winter.