in botany: A genus of the pentagynia order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants. The calyx is a monophyllous, five-parted, corollifero is perianthium, with sharp ovated segments; the corolla has five linear petals; the stamina are five very short filaments at the bases of the petals; the pericarpium a globular, hard, quinquelocular nut, with two ovated seeds in each division.