Akademik

a large feather palm of Africa and Madagascar having very long pinnatisect fronds yielding a strong commercially important fiber from its leafstalks

1. : a pinnate-leaved palm (Raphia ruffia) native to Madagascar that is of considerable economic importance on account of the strong fiber obtained from its leafstalks — see raffia 1

2. : jupati

any of various palms of the genus Raphia, as R. farinifera of tropical Africa, having pinnate leaves that yield a strong, flexible fiber.

[1895-1900]