(n)feather palm of tropical Africa and Madagascar and Central and South America widely grown for commercial purposes, Syn.genus Raffia, Raphia, genus Raphia
(n)a large feather palm of Africa and Madagascar having very long pinnatisect fronds yielding a strong commercially important fiber from its leafstalks, Syn.Raffia ruffia, Raffia farinifera
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. (Bot.) A fibrous material used for tying plants, said to come from the leaves of a palm tree of the genus Raphia. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). [ 1913 Webster ]
(a) A pinnate-leaved palm (Raphia ruffia) native of Madagascar, and of considerable economic importance on account of the strong fiber (raffia) obtained from its leafstalks. (b) The jupati palm. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]