staggerbush

/ ˈstæɡəˌbʊʃ /

noun

1. an ericaceous deciduous shrub, Lyonia mariana , of E North America, having white or pinkish flowers: it is poisonous to livestock

Word History and Origins

Origin of staggerbush¹

C19: so named because it was believed to cause _staggers in sheep

Example Sentences

In sandy soil from southern New England to Florida, rarely far inland, one finds the staggerbush in bloom from May to July.

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