umbrella tree

noun

an American magnolia, Magnolia tripetala, having large leaves in umbrellalike clusters.
any of various other trees resembling an umbrella.

umbrella tree

a North American magnolia, Magnolia tripetala, having long leaves clustered into an umbrella formation at the ends of the branches and unpleasant-smelling white flowers
Also calledumbrella bush Any of various other trees or shrubs having leaves shaped like an umbrella or growing in an umbrella-like cluster

An Americanism dating back to 1730–40

The only alternative to this was that the original umbrella tree had disappeared, and this I did not want to believe.

By this time a path had been cut through to the palm grove and from it to the umbrella tree.

Under this sheltering umbrella-tree, which spread its dense arch like a roof, sat Joyce and her mother.

It is known as large-leaved cucumber tree, great-leaved magnolia, large-leaved umbrella tree, and long-leaved magnolia.

Here was pointed out a fine, lofty specimen of the umbrella tree, of the pine family, with broad leaves of a deep green.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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