cucumber tree

American  

noun

1. any of several American magnolias, especially Magnolia acuminata, having ovate leaves, yellowish-green bell-shaped flowers, and dark red, conelike fruit.

2. any of certain other trees, as an East Indian tree of the genus Averrhoa.

---

cucumber tree British  

noun

1. any of several American trees or shrubs of the genus Magnolia, esp M. acuminata, of E and central North America, having cup-shaped greenish flowers and cucumber-shaped fruits

2. an E Asian tree, Averrhoa bilimbi, with edible fruits resembling small cucumbers: family Averrhoaceae See also carambola

---

Etymology

Origin of cucumber tree

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; so called from the resemblance of its fruit to cucumbers

Example Sentences

Shape of leaves, in heart-leaved cucumber tree and ear-leaved umbrella.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen

They are distinctly southern trees; some species under cultivation in the United States come from Asia, but the two most commonly grown in the Eastern States are the cucumber tree and the umbrella tree.

From Studies of Trees by Levison, Jacob Joshua

At other times he sowed seeds of the cucumber tree, chickory and "colliflower" and planted ivy and wild honeysuckle.

From George Washington: Farmer by Haworth, Paul Leland

The large-leaved cucumber tree exceeds all other magnolias in the size of its leaves and flowers.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen

The cucumber tree is the hardiest of our native magnolias, tropical-looking by reason of its heart-shaped leaves, six to ten inches long.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen