in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of polydelphion, and to the order of polyandra; and in the natural system ranging under those the order of which has not been determined. The calyx is quinquedent and inferior; the corolla is pentapetalous; the stamens are attached to the tube of the corolla in a fourfold series. Only one species, the martiniacum, is mentioned by Linnæus; but L'Heritier of the Academy of Sciences at Paris had added four more, the ciponima, arceha, tinctoria, and altonia.