Raphia

Raphia, ancient town, Gaza Strip

Raphia: see Rafa.

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raphia, fiber

raphia: see raffia.

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raffia, raphia

1. a palm tree, Raphia ruffia, native to Madagascar, that has large plumelike leaves, the stalks of which yield a useful fibre

2. the fibre obtained from this plant, used for tying, weaving, etc.

3. any of several related palms or the fibre obtained from them

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Raphia 

an ancient city near the modern city of Gaza. In 217 B.C., during the dynastic wars of the Diadochoi, a battle took place near Raphia between the Syrian army of Antiochus III (62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 102 war elephants) and the Egyptian army of Ptolemy IV (70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 war elephants). Early in the battle, the Syrians overran the left flank of the Egyptian troops, and the Egyptians overran the left flank of the Syrian troops. Later, however, the Egyptian phalanx routed the center of the Syrian army, which fled in disorder. The Syrians lost 10,000 killed and 4,000 captured, and the Egyptians suffered more than 2,000 killed. Egyptian troops occupied a number of cities in Syria and Phoenicia.

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Raphia 

a genus of plants of the family Palmae. The palms have one or numerous trunks and reach a height of 9–12 m. The pinnate fronds are 15–20 m long. The inflorescences are large (4–5 m across) and ramose, and they bear pistillate and stami-nate flowers. The fruits have a fibrous covering. After fruiting, the plant dies.

There are approximately 30 species of Raphia, distributed in tropical Africa, on Madagascar, on the Mascarene Islands, and in South America. The fronds and their stalks of all species contain a strong fiber (piassava), from which brushes and various wicker items are made. Fiber from the fronds of R. vinifera, R. text His, and R. ruffa is used for making industrial textiles; it is also used as a binding material in horticulture.