[f. as prec. + TREE sb.]
1. One of various American magnolias, especially Magnolia tripetala, having the leaves arranged umbrella-wise at the ends of the branches.
1738. Phil. Trans., XL. 1350. Magnolia, amplissimo flore albo, fructu coccineo. The Umbrella-tree.
1796. W. H. Marshall, Planting, II. 210. The wood of the Umbrella Tree … is more spongy than any of the other species of Magnolia.
1814. Pursh, Flora Amer. Septentr., II. 381. Magnolia tripetala … is generally known by the name of Umbrella-tree.
1832. Planting, 94 (L.U.K.). Magnolia tripetala, umbrella-tree, is found in soils deep and fertile in the northern parts of New York.
1884. Cassell’s Fam. Mag., March, 239/1. Here the umbrella-trees shaded the streets.
2. One of a variety of trees whose leaves or habit of growth resemble an umbrella.
c. 1790. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), V. 482/1. Corypha, Mountain Palm, or Umbrella Tree.
1834. Caunter, Orient. Ann., v. 53. The chatta, or umbrella-tree, begins here to be plentiful.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1190/1. Umbrella-tree,… Thespesia populnea and Pandanus odoratissimus. Ibid. Guinea Umbrella-Tree, Paritium guineense.
1883. Sunday Mag., Aug., 511/2. We saw a good many specimens of the ‘umbrella-tree,’ as it is called, a sort of acacia.
1889. Maiden, Useful Pl., 387. Brassaia actinophylla,… Umbrella Tree, the large leaves being set, like umbrella-ribs, at the top of numerous stems.
