rafflesia

noun

raf·​fle·​sia rə-ˈflē-zh(ē-)ə 

ra-

: any of a genus (Rafflesia of the family Rafflesiaceae) of Malaysian dicotyledonous plants that are parasitic in other plants and have fleshy usually foul-smelling apetalous flowers emerging from the host, imbricated scales in place of leaves, and no stems

Examples of rafflesia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rafflesia belongs to a parasitic genus native to Southeast Asia, and so far scientists have failed to grow one outside of its native range. —Kristy Totten, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Sir Stamford Raffles †1826 English colonial administrator

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above