rauwolfia

[ raw-woo l-fee-uh, rou- ]
/ rɔˈwʊl fi ə, raʊ- /

noun

any tropical tree or shrub of the genus Rauwolfia, as R. serpentina, of India.
an extract from the roots of the rauwolfia, R. serpentina, containing alkaloids the most important of which is reserpine: used in medicine chiefly for the treatment of hypertension and as a sedative.

Origin of rauwolfia

1745–55; < New Latin, named after L. Rauwolf, 16th-century German botanist; see -ia

Words nearby rauwolfia

raupo, rauriki, raurkela, rauschenberg, rauschenbusch, rauwolfia, rav, ravage, ravana, ravc, rave

British Dictionary definitions for rauwolfia

rauwolfia
/ (rɔːˈwʊlfɪə, raʊ-) /

noun

any tropical tree or shrub of the apocynaceous genus Rauwolfia, esp R. serpentina of SE Asia
the powdered root of R. serpentina : a source of various drugs, esp reserpine

Word Origin for rauwolfia

C19: New Latin, named after Leonhard Rauwolf (died 1596), German botanist