[rau.wol.fia] n [NL, fr. Leonhard Rauwolf d. 1596 Ger. botanist] (1752) 1: any of a large pantropical genus (Rauvolfia syn. Rauwolfia) of somewhat poisonous trees and shrubs of the dogbane family that yield emetic and purgative substances
2: a medicinal extract from the root of an Asian rauwolfia (Rauvolfia serpentina) used in the treatment of hypertension and mental disorders