or MAN'S-BEARD, in botany: A genus of the monocota order, belonging to the poiygamia clas; and in the natural method ranking under the 4th order, Gramina. The hermaphrodite calyx is a one-flowered bivalved glume: The corolla is a bivalved glume awn'd at the base: The stamina consist of three capillary filaments; the antherae are oblong and bifurcated: The pistillum has an oval germen; with two capillary styli coalesced, and villous filigerae. There is no pericarpium: The seed is one, foliary, and covered. The male calyx, corolla, and stamina, the same with the hermaphrodite; but the corolla without the awn.—There are above 18 species. Of these the most remarkable is the nardus, which produces the Indian nard or spikenard of the shops. The spikenard, as brought from the East Indies, is a congeries of small fibres issuing from one head, and matted close together, so as to form a bunch about the size of the finger, with some small strings at the opposite end of the head. The matted fibres (which are the parts chosen for medicinal purposes) are supposed by some to be the head or spike of the plant, by others the root: they seem rather to be the remains of the withered stalks, or the ribs of the leaves: sometimes entire leaves and pieces of stalks are found among them; we likewise now and then meet with a number of these bunches issuing from one root. Spikenard has a warm, pungent, bitterish taste; and a strong, not very agreeable smell. It is stomachic and carminative; and said to be alexipharmac, diuretic, and emmenagogue; but at present it is very little employed.