The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Raffia \Raf"fi*a\ (r[a^]f"f[i^]*[.a]), n. (Bot.)
   A fibrous material used for tying plants, said to come from
   the leaves of a palm tree of the genus Raphia. --J. Smith
   (Dict. Econ. Plants).
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

raffia
    n 1: leaf fibers of the raffia palm tree; used to make baskets
         and mats etc. [syn: raffia, raphia]
    2: fiber of a raffia palm used as light cordage and in making
       hats and baskets
    3: feather palm of tropical Africa and Madagascar and Central
       and South America widely grown for commercial purposes [syn:
       Raffia, genus Raffia, Raphia, genus Raphia]