rafflesia
[ ruh-flee-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh, ra- ]
/ rəˈfli ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə, ræ- /
noun
any stemless, leafless, parasitic plant of the genus Rafflesia, of the Malay Peninsula and Republic of Indonesia, characterized by apetalous flowers, measuring 3 in.–3 feet (8 cm–90 cm) in diameter, that exude a putrid odor: now greatly reduced in number.
Origin of rafflesia
< New Latin (1821), after T. S.
Raffles, who obtained the type specimen
Words nearby rafflesia
raffinate,
raffinose,
raffish,
raffle,
raffles,
rafflesia,
rafinesque,
rafraîchissoir,
rafsanjani,
raft,
raft ice
Example sentences from the Web for rafflesia
This extraordinary Rafflesia Arnoldii is the biggest flower in the world.
The Romance of Plant Life |G. F. Scott ElliotThe remarkable Javanese fungus Rafflesia belongs to this order.
Botany for Ladies |Jane LoudonThe poisons of rafflesia, muscarine, and orsere are introduced in his fictions; somewhere he devotes an essay to toxicology.
The Merry-Go-Round |Carl Van VechtenThe guide who was some distance behind, came up with a Rafflesia bud.
Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and The |William Griffith
British Dictionary definitions for rafflesia
rafflesia
/ (ræˈfliːzɪə) /
noun
any of various tropical Asian parasitic leafless plants constituting the genus Rafflesia, esp R. arnoldi, the flowers of which grow up to 45 cm (18 inches) across, smell of putrid meat, and are pollinated by carrion flies: family Rafflesiaceae
Word Origin for rafflesia
C19: New Latin, named after T. S.
Raffles, who discovered it