a palmlike plant, Carludovica palmata, of Central and South America, whose fanlike leaves are bleached for making panama hats: family Cyclanthaceae
Word origin
American Spanish, after Jipijapa, Ecuador
jipijapa in American English
(ˌhipiˈhɑpə)
noun
1.
a Central and South American plant (Carludovica palmata) of a family (Cyclanthaceae, order Cyclanthales) of monocotyledonous perennials, whose leaves yield a flexible, durable straw used for hats