AFRICAN CHICKWEED: A genus of the trigynia order, belonging to the triandra class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 22d order, Caryophyllae. The calyx is pentaphylous; there is no corolla; the capsule is trilocular, and trivalved. Its characters are these: The emplacement of the flower is composed of five oblong small leaves, coloured on their insides, and permanent; the flower has five oval petals shorter than the emplacement; and three bristly stamens, which stand near the style, terminated by single summits; it has an oval germen, having three furrows, supporting three very short styles: the germen becomes an oval capsule with three cells, filled with small kidney-shaped seeds. There are several species, few of which are admitted into gardens. Miller reckons two and Linnæus five species. This plant is said to have an aperitive virtue.

MOLUSCA, in the Linnæan system, is the denomination of the second genus of vermes or worms. These are simple naked animals, not included in a shell, but furnished with limbs, and comprehend eighteen subordinate genera, and one hundred and ten species.