in botany: A genus of the monogyne order, belonging to the hexandria class of plants. The calyx is a two-valved, abbreviated, and one-flowered glume; the corolla is a double glume, each two-valved; the exterior one compressed, and fivemeter-shaped, tranversely wrinkled, and gashed at the base. There are six stamens, three on each side the pistil in a parallel line. The stigma is simple, compressed, four-tufted, and torn at the top.