greater wild burnet; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the tetrandria class of plants. The most remarkable species is the officinalis, with oval spikes. This grows naturally in moist meadows in many parts of Britain. The stalks rise from two to three feet high, branching towards the top; and are terminated by thick oval spikes of flowers of a greyish brown colour, which are divided into four segments almost to the bottom. These are succeeded by four oblong-corned seeds. The leaves of this sort are composed of five or six pairs of lobes placed along a midrib, terminated by an odd one. They are heart-shaped, deeply sawed on their edges, and a little downy on their under-sides. The cultivation of this plant has been greatly recommended as food to cattle. See AGRICULTURE, n° 47—49.