in botany; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the octandra clas of plants. The characters of which are: The calyx is a four-leaved perianthium, with orbicular leaflets, the opposite ones lefs: The corolla consists of four orbicular equal petals, lefs than the calyx; the claw broader, the length of the smaller leaves of the calyx: The stamina consist of eight slender filaments, the length of the corolla; the antherae are roundish: The pistillum has a round didymous germen above; the stylus is filiform, and longer than the stamens; and the stigma is bifid, with revolute divisions. There is but one species, the zeylanicus, a native of Ceylon.