in botany: A genus of the monoecyia order, belonging to the hexandria clasps plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 48th order, Aggregate. The germen is inferior; there is no calyx; the corolla is fixed and revoluted; the stamina are at the tops of the petals; the berry is monospermous. There is only one species, a native of America, discovered by Father Plumier, and found growing naturally at La Vera Cruz by Dr Houston. It rises with a shrubby stalk, eight or ten feet high, dividing into several branches, having at their ends clusters of small scarlet-coloured flowers, succeeded by oval berries with a pulpy covering, and a hard shell with one cell, enclosing several compressed seeds. It is propagated by seeds, which should be sown soon after they are ripe; otherwise they are very apt to miscarry, or lie a year in the ground without germinating. The plants require always to be kept in a bark-flute.