| a North American tree, Oxydendrum arboreum, of the heath family, having leaves with an acid flavor and drooping clusters of white flowers. |
sour·wood  (sour'wŏŏd')  n. A deciduous tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) of the eastern United States, having drooping terminal panicles of small, white, urn-shaped flowers. Also called sorrel tree. [So called from its sour-tasting leaves.] |
sourwood
(species Oxydendrum arboreum), deciduous ornamental tree, of the heath family (Ericaceae), native to southeastern North America. It grows to about 23 metres (75 feet) in height. The bitter-tasting leaves are alternate, stalked, rather oblong, and 12-20 cm (5-8 inches) long. In the autumn the leaves turn a brilliant red. The pendulous fragrant white flowers, about 1 cm (0.4 inch) long, grow in clusters 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) in length; the flowers are replaced by erect whitish capsular fruits, which make a pleasant contrast with the leaves.
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