noun
- any tropical tree or shrub of the genus Rauwolfia, as R. serpentina, of India.
- an extract from the roots of the rauwolfia, R. serpentina, containing alkaloids the most important of which is reserpine: used in medicine chiefly for the treatment of hypertension and as a sedative.
noun
- any tropical tree or shrub of the apocynaceous genus Rauwolfia, esp R. serpentina of SE Asia
- the powdered root of R. serpentina : a source of various drugs, esp reserpine