fringe tree

fringe tree
a shrub or small tree, Chionanthus virginicus, of the olive family, native to the southern U.S., bearing open clusters of white flowers with long, narrow petals. Also called old-man's-beard.
[1720-30, Amer.]

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▪ Chionanthus
 either of two tree species in the genus Chionanthus in the family Oleaceae. They get their name from the long, fringy, snow-white flowers that cover the trees in spring. The flowers hang in clusters of about the same length as the leaves and have four narrow petals.

      The dark-blue fruits are oval. C. virginicus, from southeastern North America, reaches about 10 metres (33 feet). C. retusus, from China, seldom reaches 6 metres.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fringe tree — A small oleaceous tree ({Chionanthus virginica}), of the southern United States, having clusters of snow white flowers with slender petals. It is often cultivated. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fringe tree — fringe′ tree n. pln a small tree, Chionanthus virginicus, of the olive family, native to the southeastern U.S., bearing open clusters of long drooping white flowers • Etymology: 1720–30, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • fringe tree — ☆ fringe tree n. any of a genus (Chionanthus) of the olive family; esp., a small tree ( C. virginicus) native to the SE U.S., having large clusters of drooping white flowers …   English World dictionary

  • fringe tree — noun any of various small decorative flowering trees or shrubs of the genus Chionanthus • Hypernyms: ↑tree • Hyponyms: ↑fringe bush, ↑Chionanthus virginicus • Member Holonyms: ↑Chionanthus, ↑genus Chionanthus …   Useful english dictionary

  • fringe-tree bark — noun : the dried root bark of the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginica) formerly used as a diuretic …   Useful english dictionary

  • fringe tree — /ˈfrɪndʒ tri/ (say frinj tree) noun a shrub or small tree, Chionanthus virginicus, of the southern United States, bearing panicles of white flowers with long, narrow petals …  

  • fringe tree — noun Date: circa 1730 a small eastern United States tree (Chionanthus virginicus) of the olive family that has clusters of white flowers and is widely cultivated as an ornamental …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Fringe — may refer to* Fringe (hair), a hairstyling term also called bangs * Fringe (trim), an ornamental appendage to the border of an item * Edinburgh Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world * Fringe (TV series), a TV series by J.J. Abrams,… …   Wikipedia

  • fringe bush — noun small bushy tree of southeastern United States having profuse clusters of white flowers • Syn: ↑Chionanthus virginicus • Hypernyms: ↑fringe tree * * * noun : fringe tree …   Useful english dictionary

  • white fringe — noun : fringe tree …   Useful english dictionary

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