n.
Pronunciation: rau ̇ - ' wu ̇ l-f ē - ə , ro ̇ -
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Leonhard Rauwolf † 1596 German botanist
Date: 1752
1 : any of a genus ( Rauvolfia syn. Rauwolfia ) of pantropical trees and shrubs of the dogbane family that yield medicinal alkaloids (as reserpine)
2 : the dried root or an extract from the root of a rauwolfia (esp. Rauvolfia serpentina of Asia) used chiefly in the treatment of hypertension