carrotwood

noun

car·​rot·​wood ˈker-ət-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce carrotwood (audio)
ˈka-rət-
plural carrotwoods
: an evergreen Australian tree (Cupaniopsis anacardioides of the family Sapindaceae) having large compound leaves, white to greenish-yellow flowers in axillary racemes, and a fruit that is a woody 3-lobed capsule becoming yellowish-orange when ripe
Carrotwood has become a problem in South Florida because of excess seedling production and is considered a pest tree.Robert Haehle, Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), 22 Sept. 2006
In Southern California, carrotwood grows rapidly to a height and girth of 30 feet in a variety of soil types and endures both drought and overwatering without complaint.Josh Siskin, Daily News of Los Angeles, 6 Sept. 2008

called also (Australia) tuckeroo

Word History

Etymology

so called from the color of the fruit

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carrotwood was in 1883

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Dictionary Entries Near carrotwood

Cite this Entry

“Carrotwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrotwood. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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