Definition

Noun: 1. A type of palm tree: A feather palm (genus Raphia) native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar, and Central and South America. It is widely cultivated for commercial purposes. 2. A natural fiber: The strong, durable leaf fibers obtained from the raffia palm tree. These fibers are used in crafts, such as for making baskets, mats, hats, and for tying plants in gardening.

Examples

• The raphia palm is easily identified by its enormous leaves, which are among the longest in the plant kingdom.
• She wove a beautiful basket using natural raphia.
• The fibers from the raphia are harvested and dried before being used for weaving.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical context: In botanical and horticultural texts, is used to refer specifically to the genus of palms. The fibers are often called "raffia fibers" or "raffia."
  • The genus Raphia includes several species, the most commercially important being Raphia farinifera.

Variants and Related Words

• Raffia: This is the more common spelling, especially when referring to the craft material or fiber. "Raphia" and "raffia" are often used interchangeably.
  • She bought a bundle of raffia for her weaving project.

Synonyms

• Palm fiber: A general term for fiber derived from palm leaves.
• Bast fiber: A technical term for fibers collected from the phloem (inner bark) of plants, which includes raphia/raffia.

Noun

1. feather palm of tropical Africa and Madagascar and Central and South America widely grown for commercial purposes
2. leaf fibers of the raffia palm tree; used to make baskets and mats etc.