Sambucus nigra is a temperate species of tree or shrub in the family Viburnaceae native to the Azores, Europe, and the Middle East. Common names include elder, elderberry, black elder, European elder, European elderberry, and European black elderberry. It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, primarily in sunny locations. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental shrub or small tree.
Both the flowers and the berries have a long tradition of culinary use, primarily for cordial and wine. Although the plant is commonly used in dietary supplements and traditional medicine, there is no clinical evidence that it provides any health effect.
Description
Elderberry is a deciduous shrub or small tree often growing to 6 metres (20 ft) tall, mature trees can reach 15 m (49 ft) tall. They can live for up to 60 years, taking 10-20 years to reach maturity. The bark, light gray when young, changes to a coarse gray outer bark with lengthwise furrowing, lenticels prominent. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, 10–30 centimetres (4–12 inches) long, pinnate with five to seven (rarely nine) leaflets, the leaflets
The hermaphroditic flowers have five stamens, which are borne in large, flat corymbs 8–24 cm in diameter in late spring to mid-summer (May or June). The individual flowers are ivory white, 5.5–7.5 millimetres (7⁄32–9⁄32 in) in diameter, with five petals, and despite having no nectar, produce a strong scent which leads to pollination by flies, beetles, and bees.
The fruit is a glossy, dark purple to black drupe 6–8 mm diameter containing 3-5 seeds, produced in drooping clusters in late autumn. The dark color of elderberry fruit results from its rich phenolic content, particularly from anthocyanins.
Flowers
Inflorescences and leaves
Leaves
Fruit cluster
Growing as an epiphyte on a sycamore...
