Judas tree

8.7

A small tree from the eastern Mediterranean with many purplish-red flowers on its trunk and branches before the leaves appear

noun
/ˈdʒuːdəs triː/

: árbol de Judas

The Judas tree is a flowering tree of the same family as the redbud.

Examples

The garden was vibrant with the purple flowers of the Judas tree that bloomed in early spring.
In many parks, the Judas tree is admired for its striking pink blossoms that appear before the leaves.
We have a Cedar of Lebanon... ...and a Judas tree.

The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
Our neighbor has planted a Judas tree, and its brilliant flowers are a favorite among the local birds.

Synonyms

Cercis siliquastrum

vsJudas tree

Specialized

9.9

A small tree with many purple-pink flowers that grow on old branches before the leaves, often grown in mild gardens

is the common name used for the same ornamental small tree

love tree

vsJudas tree

9.3

A small tree with bright purplish-red flowers that grow on its stems before leaves appear

is the common name used for the same ornamental tree and wood

Surface Forms

Judas tree singular

Judas trees plural

Morphology

Judas + tree

Knowing 'Judas' and 'tree' lets a B1 learner infer this is a kind of tree named after Judas, so the basic referent (a tree associated with that name) is transparent. However the precise botanical identity, appearance and cultural associations (Cercis siliquastrum, the distinctive purplish flowers and folkloric link) are lexicalized and not predictable from the parts, making the expression only partially transparent across learners.

Etymology

Judas tree comes from a popular legend: after betraying Jesus, Judas is said to have hanged himself on a tree, and people imagined the tree's flowers were stained by his blood. That's why the name links the tree to 'betrayal', even though today the Judas tree is mostly known for its bright spring flowers.