paradise tree

9.8

A medium to large tropical American tree with long clusters of small pale yellow flowers and bright red fruit

noun
/ˈpærəˌdaɪs tri/

: árbol del paraíso

The paradise tree is prized for its attractive scarlet fruit and lush foliage.

Examples

Botanists studied the medicinal properties of the paradise tree found in South America.
The paradise tree blooms beautifully in spring.
A row of paradise trees lined the edge of the tropical garden.
Did you see the paradise trees in the garden?
The paradise tree is known for its striking scarlet fruits that attract many birds.
In the botanical park, the lush paradise trees featured long panicles of pale yellow flowers.
Many gardeners choose the paradise tree for its unique leaves and vibrant fruit.

Synonyms

Simarouba glauca

vsparadise tree

Specialized

9.9

A medium to large evergreen tree from tropical America with yellow flowers and red fruit

is the common name used for the same tree species

Surface Forms

paradise tree singular

paradise trees plural

Morphology

paradise + tree

A learner who knows 'paradise' (a perfect/heavenly place) and 'tree' will readily interpret 'paradise tree' as a tree associated with paradise — i.e., an especially beautiful or ideal tree. However, the headword here names a particular botanical species with specific morphological traits that are not predictable from the constituents alone, so the compositional meaning is only partially informative.

Etymology

Paradise tree The name paradise tree comes from its bright red fruit and rich green leaves that made people think of 'paradise', a perfect, beautiful place. That's why the name means a very attractive tropical tree.