| any of several chiefly South American, evergreen trees belonging to the genus Schinus, of the cashew family, cultivated in subtropical regions as an ornamental. |
| pepper tree also pep·per·tree (pěp'ər-trē') n. Any of several evergreen trees of the genus Schinus, especially S. molle, native to South America, having compound leaves, yellowish-white flowers clustered in branching panicles, and small rose-colored drupes. Also called California pepper tree. |