in botany: A genus of the mo-illecebrum nogynia order, belonging to the pentandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 12th order, Holaraceae. The calyx is pentaphyllous, and cartilaginous; there is no corolla; the stigma is simple; the capsule quinquevalved, and monoecious. There are several species, of which the most remarkable are the paronychia and the capitatum. Both these have trailing stalks near two feet long, which spread on the ground, garnished with small leaves like those of knot-grasps. The heads of the flowers come out from the joints of the stalks, having neat silvery bracteae surrounding them, which make a pretty appearance. Their flowers appear in June, and there is generally a succession of them for at least two months; and when the autumn proves warm, they will ripen their seeds in October. They are propagated by seeds which should be sown in a bed of light earth in the beginning of April: the plants will come up in May, when they should be kept clean from weeds till they are fit to remove. Some should be planted in small pots, and the rest in a warm border, observing to water and shade them till they have taken new root. These plants are sometimes killed in severe winters; for which reason it is directed to plant some of them in pots, that they may be sheltered during that season.