fever tree

noun

1. any of several trees that produce or are believed to produce a febrifuge, as the blue gum, which is believed to prevent malaria.
2. a small tree, Pinckneya pubens, of the madder family, native to the southeastern U.S., having a bark used as a tonic and febrifuge.

fever tree

noun

1. any of several trees that produce a febrifuge or tonic, esp Pinckneya pubens , a rubiaceous tree of SE North America
2. a tall leguminous swamp tree, Acacia xanthophloea , of southern Africa, with fragrant yellow flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of fever tree¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70