/rat"n ee/ , n. , pl. rhatanies .
1. either of two South American shrubs belonging to the genus Krameria, of the legume family, K. tiandra (knotty rhatany or Peruvian rhatany) or K. argentea (Brazilian rhatany or Pará rhatany) .
2. the root of either of these plants, used as an astringent and tonic in medicine and also to color port wine.
[ 1800-10; rhatania rataña ]