RAUWOLFIA

rauwolfia, rauvolfia

(noun) any shrub or small tree of the genus Rauwolfia having leaves in whorls and cymose flowers; yield substances used medicinally especially as emetics or purgatives or antihypertensives

rauwolfia

(noun) any of several alkaloids extracted from the shrub Rauwolfia serpentina

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

From the genus name.

Noun

rauwolfia (plural rauwolfias)

Any of several small trees and shrubs, of the genus Rauwolfia, that yields materials of medical use.

Any of a group of alkaloids extracted from these trees.

Source: Wiktionary