noun, plural rhat·a·nies.
- 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).
- the root of either of these plants, used as an astringent and tonic in medicine and also to color port wine.
noun plural -nies
- either of two South American leguminous shrubs, Krameria triandra or K. argentea, that have thick fleshy roots
- the dried roots of such shrubs used as an astringent