sourwood

English

Etymology

From sour +‎ wood.

Noun

sourwood (plural sourwoods)

1. A North American deciduous shrubby tree, of the genus Oxydendrum, having deep fissures in its bark, and sour-tasting leaves.
   • 2021, Richard Powers, Bewilderment, Hutchinson Heinemann, page 17:

     I let him chew the tip of a burgundy leaf and taste how sourwood got its name.

2. An Australian tree, of the genus Hibiscus; the sorrel tree.