\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.