or AMMANT, in the German and Belgic policy, a judge who has the cognizance of civil causes.—It is also used among the French for a public notary, or officer, who draws up instruments and deeds.

AMMANIA: A genus of the monogyne order, belonging to the tetrandra class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 17th order, Calycanthemae. The characters are: The calyx is an oblong, erect, bell-shaped perianthium, with eight striae, quadrangulated, octodentated, and persifflent: The corolla is either wanting, or it consists of four ovate expanding petals inserted in the calyx: The flavina consist of four bristly filaments the length of the calyx; the antherae there are didymous; The pistillum has a large ovate germen, above; the stylus simple and very short, the stigma headed: The pericarpium is a roundish four-celled capsule, covered by the calyx: The seeds are numerous and small.—Of this genus there are three species enumerated; all of them natives of warm climates. They have no beauty or other remarkable property.