The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ramie \Ram"ie\ (r[a^]m"[-e]), n. [From Malay.] (Bot.)
   The grasscloth plant (B[oe]hmeria nivea); also, its fiber,
   which is very fine and exceedingly strong; -- called also
   China grass, and rhea. See Grass-cloth plant, under
   Grass.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ramie
    n 1: tall perennial herb of tropical Asia with dark green
         leaves; cultivated for the fiber from its woody stems that
         resembles flax [syn: ramie, ramee, Chinese silk
         plant, China grass, Boehmeria nivea]