in botany: A genus of the monocotyledon order, belonging to the polygamia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 4th order, Graminae. The involucrum is laciniated, and echinate, or beaded with small prickles, and biflorous. The calyx is a biflorous glume, with one floret-male, and the other hermaphrodite. The hermaphrodite corolla is a pointless glume; there are three stamens; one seed: the male corolla a pointless glume; with three stamens.