para rhatany

noun

1. See under rhatany(def 1).

noun, plural rhat·a·nies.

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.

noun plural -nies

1. either of two South American leguminous shrubs, Krameria triandra or K. argentea, that have thick fleshy roots
2. the dried roots of such shrubs used as an astringent