in botany; a genus of plants belonging to the class of *pentandria*, and to the order of *trigynia*. The calyx is pentaphyllous; the petals are five; the capsule is three-edged and trilocular; the seeds solitary. There is only one species, the *simples*, which is a native of Jamaica, and was introduced into the botanic gardens of this country in 1778 by Dr Wright, late of Jamaica.

**SPA.W.** See **SPA**.

**SPAWN**, in natural history, the eggs of fishes or frogs. See **FISH** and **RANA**.

**SPAVENTO.** See **SCANTO**.