What is "cucumber tree"

Cucumber \Cu"cum*ber\ (k?`k?m-b?r, formerly kou"k?m-b?r), n. [OE. cucumer, cocumber, cucumber, fr. L. cucmis, gen.cucumeris; cf. OF. cocombre,F. concombre.] (Bot.) A creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the genus Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of which is eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar plants or fruits of several other genera. See below. Bitter cucumber (Bot.), the Citrullus Colocynthis syn. Cucumis Colocynthis. See Colocynth. Cucumber beetle. (Zo["o]l.)

1. A small, black flea-beetle ( Crepidodera cucumeris), which destroys the leaves of cucumber, squash, and melon vines.

2. The squash beetle. Cucumber tree.

   1. A large ornamental or shade tree of the genus Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), so called from a slight resemblance of its young fruit to a small cucumber.

   2. An East Indian plant ( Averrhoa Bilimbi) which produces the fruit known as bilimbi.

      Jamaica cucumber, Jerusalem cucumber, the prickly-fruited gherkin ( Cucumis Anguria).

      Snake cucumber, a species ( Cucumis flexuosus) remarkable for its long, curiously-shaped fruit.

      Squirting cucumber, a plant ( Ecbalium Elaterium) whose small oval fruit separates from the footstalk when ripe and expels its seeds and juice with considerable force through the opening thus made. See Elaterium.

      Star cucumber, a climbing weed ( Sicyos angulatus) with prickly fruit.

n. 1 Any of several species of trees with cucumber-like fruit. 2 # (taxlink Averrhoa bilimbi species noshow=1), native to South-east Asia. 3 # (taxlink Dendrosicyos socotrana species noshow=1), native to Socotra. 4 # (taxlink Kigelia africana species noshow=1), native to tropical Africa. 5 # (taxlink Magnolia acuminata species noshow=1), native to the northeastern United States.

n. American deciduous magnolia having large leaves and fruit like a small cucumber [syn: Magnolia acuminata]

Cucumber tree (or Cucumbertree) is a common name for several unrelated trees and may refer to:

• Averrhoa bilimbi, native to South-east Asia
• Dendrosicyos socotrana, native to the island of Socotra.
• Kigelia africana, native to tropical Africa
• Magnolia acuminata, native to the eastern United States and southern Canada