bastard ethiopian, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of *Syngenesia*, and order of *polysperma segregata*; and in the natural system ranging under the 49th order, *compositae*. The calyx is uniflorous; the corollas are tubular and hermaphrodite; the receptacle is naked, and the pappus is feathery. There are nine species, the *ethiopica*, *ericoidea*, *profrata*, *gnaphaloides*, *gomphrenoides*, *scabra*, *reflexa*, *rhinocerotis*, and *difflora*; all plants of foreign growth.