Raf*fle"si*a (?), n. [NL. Named from its discoverer, Sir S. Raffle.] Bot.
A genus of stemless, leafless plants, living parasitically upon the roots and stems of grapevines in Malaysia. The flowers have a carrionlike odor, and are very large, in one species (Rafflesia Arnoldi) having a diameter of two or three feet.
© Webster 1913.