ryania

noun

ry·​a·​nia

rīˈānēə

plural -s

1

: an insecticide made of a mixture of alkaloids from the ground stems of a tropical South American shrub (Patrisia pyrifera synonym Ryania speciosa) and used especially against the European corn borer

2

: the plant that yields ryania

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Ryania (genus name of Ryania speciosa, the shrub from which it is made), from John Ryan, 18th century British physician + New Latin -ia

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