Bird's-nest: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the monandra clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking with those of which the order is doubtful. There is no calyx, but 10 petals; and of these the five exterior have a melliferous hollow at the base. The capsule is quinquivalved. In some of the flowers a fifth part of the number is excluded as in the M. hippocastanum. There are two species; of which the only remarkable one is the hippocastanum, a native of Britain and some of the more northerly kingdoms of Europe. It is about five inches high, having no other leaves than oval scales, and terminated with a nodding spike of flowers, which in the feeding state becomes erect: the whole plant is of a pale yellow colour, smelling like the primrose, or like beans in blossom. The country people in Sweden give the dried plant to cattle that have a cough.