in botany; a genus of plants belonging to the class of Cryptogamia, and natural order of Alge. The calyx is bivalved, including a globular body. There is only one species; the hypophylla, which is a native of Great Britain. The hypophylla, or vetch targonia, has leaves about a quarter of an inch long, of a heart-shape, inverted, and growing prostrate in a clump together: their upper surface is green, covered with whitish papillae, and their lower surface is black. The fructification grows at the great end of the leaf on the lower side, and consists of two concave valves or hemispheres, of a reddish black colour, inclosing a chocolate-coloured globule, resembling the seed of a tare or vetch, full of a yellow powder. The leaves increase by shooting out young offsets from their sides like the polypus. This plant is found in the north of England, and near the Tarbet of Cantire in Scotland.