carrotwood

noun

car·​rot·​wood ˈker-ət-ˌwu̇d 

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

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