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rafflesia definition

raf·fle·sia (ra flē′z̸hə, -z̸hē ə, -zē ə)

noun

any of a genus (Rafflesia) of foul-smelling, dicotyledonous, Malaysian plants of a parasitic family (Rafflesiaceae, order Rafflesiales) characterized by gigantic, stemless flowers and no leaves

Etymology: ModL, after Sir T. S. Raffles (1781-1826), Brit governor in Sumatra

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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