flat-crown, noun

Origin:
See quotation 1913.
Either of two species of thorn tree of the Fabaceae, Albizia adianthifolia or A. gummifera, with flat, spreading foliage. Also attributive.
1868 J. Chapman Trav. II. 451The umbrella-like Flat-crown, common in the Berea-bush near D’Urban.
1897 ‘M. Twain’ More Tramps Abroad 444The ‘flat-crown’..half a dozen naked branches, full of elbows, slant upward like artificial supports, and fling a roof of delicate foliage out in a horizontal platform as flat as a floor.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 172Flat-crown, An indigenous Natal tree so named because of its very flat top, looking as though it had been recently and carefully trimmed.
1937 C. Birkby Zulu Journey 49I yarned with him under the shade of a flat crown tree at Mangete.
1961 Palmer & Pitman Trees of S. Afr. 168The flatcrown is a common tree along the eastern coast..its flat, wide-spread crown and horizontally growing leaves distinguishing it from surrounding trees.
1986 J. Conyngham Arrowing of Cane 16The huge flat-crown off the sitting room provides added shade from beyond the reach of its roots.
1993 Grocott’s Mail 6 Aug. 9Albizia adianthifolia. Flat Crown.
Either of two species of thorn tree of the Fabaceae, Albizia adianthifolia or A. gummifera, with flat, spreading foliage. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18681993

Browse Related Words

By Category

Trees
flap-trousers, plural nounpl. n.flats, plural nounpl. n.
Copyright © 2020 Dictionary Unit for South African English.