Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

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(fī-tĕl′ē̍-făs)

Noun.

[NL., fr. Gr.

φυτόν

a plant +

ελέφοσ

the elephant; also, ivory.]

(Bot.)

A genus of South American palm trees, the seeds of which furnish the substance called

vegetable ivory

Phytelephas f

A taxonomic genus within the family Arecaceae – palm trees in the family, with seeds having a hard white endosperm resembling ivory.