rauwolfia
/raʊˈwɒlfɪə
/ /raʊˈvɒlfɪə/(also rauvolfia)
noun
A tropical shrub or small tree, some kinds of which are cultivated for medicinal drugs.
- Genus Rauwolfia (or Rauvolfia), family Apocynaceae: many species, in particular the Indian snakeroot (R. serpentina), from which the drug reserpine is obtained.
Origin
Modern Latin, named after Leonhard Rauwolf (died 1596), German botanist.