in botany: A genus of the hexandria order, belonging to the monocota class of plants. In the male flowers the calyx is a double perianthium, the outward one with six leaves, very small; the inner one three-leaved, and three times larger than the former, with egg-shaped leaves. The corolla has six petals smaller than the interior calyx and roundish. The stamens are six capillary filaments, crooked, and as long as the petals; the anthers are roundish. The female flowers are on the same plant. The calyx and corolla are as in the male. The pericarpium consists of three roundish, monoecious plums; the seed a kidney-shaped compressed nut, somewhat furrowed.