smoke tree


noun

Also called American smoke tree, chittamwood. a tree, Cotinus obovatus, of the cashew family, native to the southeastern U.S., having egg-shaped leaves and large clusters of small white flowers.
Also called Venetian sumac. a related shrub, C. coggygria, of Eurasia, having elliptical leaves and clusters of hairy, purple flowers.

Origin of smoke tree

First recorded in 1840–50

Example sentences from the Web for smoke tree

British Dictionary definitions for smoke tree

smoke tree

noun

an anacardiaceous shrub, Cotinus coggygria, of S Europe and Asia, having clusters of yellowish feathery flowers
a related tree, Cotinus americanus, of the southern US

Word Origin for smoke tree

C19: so named because of the similarity between its flower clusters and a cloud of smoke