in botany, a genus of the monodelphia order, belonging to the dioecia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the first order, Coniferae. The male calyx is bifid; there is no corolla, but seven stamens; four anther inferior; three superior. The female calyx is bipartite, and five-fold, one upon another; there is no corolla; there are two pistils, and two seeds covered by the calyx, resembling a berry.