bottle tree

American  

noun

1. any of several trees of the genus Brachychiton, native to Australia, characterized by a bottle-shaped swelling of the trunk, as B. rupestris narrow-leaved bottle tree or B. australis broad-leaved bottle tree.

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bottle tree British  

noun

1. any of several Australian sterculiaceous trees of the genus Sterculia (or Brachychiton ) that have a bottle-shaped swollen trunk

2. another name for baobab

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Etymology

Origin of bottle tree

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

I would “NOT go at night,” wrote the author of the submission, but the hilltop near the bottle tree is safe.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 27, 2018

Around the corner is a house painted blue, a field of collards, and a bottle tree.

From Washington Times • Mar. 18, 2017

The dreamy memories washed over her: the sound of her godmother's voice waking the bottle tree with her song, Southern tree, find the breeze.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

She stood up and walked to the bottle tree.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Especially with her godmother's conjure companion, Echi, watching overhead in the bottle tree.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton