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Sambucus (old Latin name for the elder, also spelled Sabucus). Caprifoliaceae. Elder. Ornamental mostly woody plants grown for their handsome foliage, showy clusters of white flowers, and the attractive red or black berries.

Sambucus (old Latin name for the elder, also spelled Sabucus). Caprifoliaceae. Elder. Ornamental mostly woody plants grown for their handsome foliage, showy clusters of white flowers, and the attractive red or black berries.

The elders are large and rather coarse shrubs, rarely tree-like, or perennials spreading by suckers, with pinnate foliage and large flat or panicled clusters of white or creamy white small flowers followed by red or black, rarely glaucous or in some varieties green or yellow fruits. They are well adapted for mass planting and are very effective as well in bloom as in fruit in their proper places. They prefer rich and humid soil and most species are hardy North; S. caerulea and its var. neo-mexicana are hardy at least as far north as Massachusetts. Propagation is by seeds which germinate readily and by hardwood and greenwood cuttings, also by root-cuttings; the perennial species and also S. canadensis by suckers.

The elders are large and rather coarse shrubs, rarely tree-like, or perennials spreading by suckers, with pinnate foliage and large flat or panicled clusters of white or creamy white small flowers followed by red or black, rarely glaucous or in some varieties green or yellow fruits. They are well adapted for mass planting and are very effective as well in bloom as in fruit in their proper places. They prefer rich and humid soil and most species are hardy North; S. caerulea and its var. neo-mexicana are hardy at least as far north as Massachusetts. Propagation is by seeds which germinate readily and by hardwood and greenwood cuttings, also by root-cuttings; the perennial species and also S. canadensis by suckers.

S. callicarpa, Greene (S. leiosperma, Leiberg. S. racemosa var. callicarpa, Jepson). Allied to S. pubens: shrub to 10 ft.: lfts. oblong to lanceolate, pubescent on the veins beneath while young: infl. broadly pyramidal or hemispherical: nutlets smooth. Alaska to Calif., Japan. M.D. 1909:8, fig. 5. G.F. 10:175. Mn. 2:21 (as S. pubens). —S. chinensis, Lindl.—S. javanica.—S. Ebulus, Linn. Herbaceous, stoloniferous, to 5 ft.: lfts. 5-9, elliptic-lanceolate, serrate, pubescent; stipules large: cymes flat, 3-rayed; fls. white or pinkish, anthers purple, fragrant: fr. black, 1/4 in. across. Eu., Afr., W. Asia. R.F.G. 12:779. S.E.B. 4:638.—S. Fontenaysii, Carr. (S. caerulea X S. nigra). Intermediate between the parents: lvs. bluish green: cymes large: fr. black, bloomy. Garden origin.—S. javanica, Reinw. (S. chinensis, Lindl. S. Thunbergiana, Blume). Suffruticose, to 6 ft.: lfts. 5-7, elliptic-lanceolate, the upper ones sometimes decurrent, long-acuminate, sparingly pubescent while young, to 8 in. long: cymes flat, 5-6 in. across, with scattered large aborted fleshy fls.: fr. ovoid, red. Japan, China to Malay Archipelago.—S. leiosperma, Leiberg- S. callicarpa.—S. melanocarpa. Gray. Allied to S. pubens. Shrub, to 12 ft.: lfts. oblong-lanceolate, pubescent beneath while young, 4-5 in. long: infl. ovate: fr. 1/4 in. thick, black, rarely reddish brown. Brit. Col. to Calif. G.F. 10:135. M.D. 1909:8, fig. 4. I.T. 5:173.—S. mexicana, D.C. (S. canadensis var. mexicana, Sarg.). Tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. 5-9-foliolate, sometimes bipinnate; lfts. ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, pubescent on both sides while young, later only below, 2-6 in. long: cymes flat, 6-8 in. across: fr. nearly black, ribbed, 1/4 in. across. W. Texas to S. Calif., Mex. S.S. 5:221. In Mex. planted sometimes near houses as a shade-tree and for its fr. —S. microbotrys, Rydb. Allied to S. pubens. Shrub, to 6 ft., glabrous: lfts. ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, to 5 in. long: infl. small, nearly hemispherical, about 2 in. long: fr. scarlet. Calif. to Colo. and Nev.—S. Sieboldiana, Graebn. (S. racemosa var. Sieboldiana, Miq.). Closely related to S. racemosa: lfts. oblong-ovate to lanceolate, smooth, not rugulose above, more finely serrate, to 4 or occasionally to 8 in. long: fls. and frs. smaller. Japan, China. S.I.F.2:74 (as S. racemosa).—S. Simpsonii, Rehd. Allied to S. canadensis. Small tree, to 15 ft., with deeply furrowed bark: lfts. usually 5, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, lustrous above, glabrous, 1  1/2-3 in. long: cymes with 4 or 5 rays, the central ray as long or longer than the lateral rays: ovary 5-celled. Fla. S.T.S. 2:175.—S. Thunbergiana, Blume - S. javanica. The plant cult. under this name is S. racemosa or possibly sometimes S. Sieboldiana.

S. callicarpa, Greene (S. leiosperma, Leiberg. S. racemosa var. callicarpa, Jepson). Allied to S. pubens: shrub to 10 ft.: lfts. oblong to lanceolate, pubescent on the veins beneath while young: infl. broadly pyramidal or hemispherical: nutlets smooth. Alaska to Calif., Japan. M.D. 1909:8, fig. 5. G.F. 10:175. Mn. 2:21 (as S. pubens). —S. chinensis, Lindl.—S. javanica.—S. Ebulus, Linn. Herbaceous, stoloniferous, to 5 ft.: lfts. 5-9, elliptic-lanceolate, serrate, pubescent; stipules large: cymes flat, 3-rayed; fls. white or pinkish, anthers purple, fragrant: fr. black, 1/4 in. across. Eu., Afr., W. Asia. R.F.G. 12:779. S.E.B. 4:638.—S. Fontenaysii, Carr. (S. caerulea X S. nigra). Intermediate between the parents: lvs. bluish green: cymes large: fr. black, bloomy. Garden origin.—S. javanica, Reinw. (S. chinensis, Lindl. S. Thunbergiana, Blume). Suffruticose, to 6 ft.: lfts. 5-7, elliptic-lanceolate, the upper ones sometimes decurrent, long-acuminate, sparingly pubescent while young, to 8 in. long: cymes flat, 5-6 in. across, with scattered large aborted fleshy fls.: fr. ovoid, red. Japan, China to Malay Archipelago.—S. leiosperma, Leiberg- S. callicarpa.—S. melanocarpa. Gray. Allied to S. pubens. Shrub, to 12 ft.: lfts. oblong-lanceolate, pubescent beneath while young, 4-5 in. long: infl. ovate: fr. 1/4 in. thick, black, rarely reddish brown. Brit. Col. to Calif. G.F. 10:135. M.D. 1909:8, fig. 4. I.T. 5:173.—S. mexicana, D.C. (S. canadensis var. mexicana, Sarg.). Tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. 5-9-foliolate, sometimes bipinnate; lfts. ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, pubescent on both sides while young, later only below, 2-6 in. long: cymes flat, 6-8 in. across: fr. nearly black, ribbed, 1/4 in. across. W. Texas to S. Calif., Mex. S.S. 5:221. In Mex. planted sometimes near houses as a shade-tree and for its fr. —S. microbotrys, Rydb. Allied to S. pubens. Shrub, to 6 ft., glabrous: lfts. ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, to 5 in. long: infl. small, nearly hemispherical, about 2 in. long: fr. scarlet. Calif. to Colo. and Nev.—S. Sieboldiana, Graebn. (S. racemosa var. Sieboldiana, Miq.). Closely related to S. racemosa: lfts. oblong-ovate to lanceolate, smooth, not rugulose above, more finely serrate, to 4 or occasionally to 8 in. long: fls. and frs. smaller. Japan, China. S.I.F.2:74 (as S. racemosa).—S. Simpsonii, Rehd. Allied to S. canadensis. Small tree, to 15 ft., with deeply furrowed bark: lfts. usually 5, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, lustrous above, glabrous, 1  1/2-3 in. long: cymes with 4 or 5 rays, the central ray as long or longer than the lateral rays: ovary 5-celled. Fla. S.T.S. 2:175.—S. Thunbergiana, Blume - S. javanica. The plant cult. under this name is S. racemosa or possibly sometimes S. Sieboldiana.{{SCH}}

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The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, [[pinnate]], with 5-9 leaflets (rarely 3 or 11), each leaf 5-30 cm long, the leaflets with a serrated margin. They bear large clusters of small [[white]] or [[cream (colour)|cream]] coloured [[flowers]] in the late [[spring (season)|spring]], that are followed by clusters of small red, bluish or black (rarely yellow or white) [[berry|berries]]. Species have lifespans between 80 and 100 years.

The berries are a very valuable food resource for many [[bird]]s. Elders are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Brown-tail]], [[Buff Ermine]], [[Dot Moth]], [[Pavonia pavonia|Emperor Moth]], [[Engrailed|The Engrailed]], [[Swallow-tailed Moth]] and [[V-pug|The V-pug]]. The crushed foliage and immature fruit have a strong fetid smell. Dead elder wood is the preferred habitat of the mushroom ''[[Auricularia auricula-judae]]'', also known as "Judas' ear fungus".

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[[Valley elderberry longhorn beetle]] in California are very often found around red or blue elderberry bushes. Females lay their eggs on the bark. Larvae hatch and burrow into the stems.

===Pests and diseases===

==Species groups==

==Species groups==

*The '''common elder''' complex is variously treated as a single species ''Sambucus nigra'' found in the warmer parts of [[Europe]] and [[North America]] with several regional varieties or subspecies, or else as a group of '''several''' similar species. The flowers are in flat [[corymb]]s, and the berries are black to glaucous blue; they are larger shrubs, reaching 5&ndash;8&nbsp;[[metre|m]] tall, occasionally small trees up to 15&nbsp;[[metre|m]] tall and with a stem diameter of up to 30&ndash;60&nbsp;[[centimetre|cm]].

[[Image:Sambucus nigra 2004 c.jpg|thumb|Black Elder (Sambucus nigra)]]

[[Image:Holunderkultur.JPG|thumb|Elderberry cultivation in Austria]]

[[Image:Holunderkultur.JPG|thumb|Elderberry cultivation in Austria]]

** ''[[Sambucus australis]]'' ('''Southern Elder'''; temperate eastern South America)

** ''[[Sambucus australis]]'' ('''Southern Elder'''; temperate eastern South America)

** ''[[Sambucus canadensis]]'' ('''American Elder'''; eastern North America; with blue-black berries)

** ''[[Sambucus canadensis]]'' ('''American Elder'''; eastern North America; with blue-black berries)

** ''[[Sambucus velutina]]'' ('''Velvet Elder'''; southwestern North America; with blue-black berries)

** ''[[Sambucus velutina]]'' ('''Velvet Elder'''; southwestern North America; with blue-black berries)

*The '''Blackberry Elder''' ''[[Sambucus melanocarpa]]'' of western North America is intermediate between the preceding and next groups. The flowers are in rounded [[panicle]]s, but the berries are black; it is a small shrub, rarely exceeding 3&ndash;4&nbsp;[[metre|m]] tall. Some botanists include it in the red-berried elder group.

*The '''Blackberry Elder''' ''[[Sambucus melanocarpa]]'' of western North America is intermediate between the preceding and next groups. The flowers are in rounded [[panicle]]s, but the berries are black; it is a small shrub, rarely exceeding 3–4 [[metre|m]] tall. Some botanists include it in the red-berried elder group.

*The '''red-berried elder''' complex is variously treated as a single species ''Sambucus racemosa'' found throughout the colder parts of the [[Northern Hemisphere]] with several regional varieties or subspecies, or else as a group of several similar species. The flowers are in rounded panicles, and the berries are bright red; they are smaller shrubs, rarely exceeding 3&ndash;4&nbsp;[[metre|m]] tall.

*The '''red-berried elder''' complex is variously treated as a single species ''Sambucus racemosa'' found throughout the colder parts of the [[Northern Hemisphere]] with several regional varieties or subspecies, or else as a group of several similar species. The flowers are in rounded panicles, and the berries are bright red; they are smaller shrubs, rarely exceeding 3–4 [[metre|m]] tall.

** ''[[Sambucus callicarpa]]'' ('''Pacific Coast Red Elder'''; west coast of North America)

** ''[[Sambucus callicarpa]]'' ('''Pacific Coast Red Elder'''; west coast of North America)

** ''[[Sambucus chinensis]]'' ('''Chinese Red Elder'''; eastern Asia, in mountains)

** ''[[Sambucus chinensis]]'' ('''Chinese Red Elder'''; eastern Asia, in mountains)

** ''[[Sambucus williamsii]]'' ('''North China Red Elder'''; northeast Asia)

** ''[[Sambucus williamsii]]'' ('''North China Red Elder'''; northeast Asia)

*The '''Australian elder''' group comprises two species from [[Australasia]]. The flowers are in rounded panicles, and the berries white or yellow; they are shrubs growing to 3&nbsp;[[metre|m]] high.

*The '''Australian elder''' group comprises two species from [[Australasia]]. The flowers are in rounded panicles, and the berries white or yellow; they are shrubs growing to 3 [[metre|m]] high.

** ''[[Sambucus australasica]]'' ('''Yellow Elder'''; New Guinea, eastern Australia)

** ''[[Sambucus australasica]]'' ('''Yellow Elder'''; New Guinea, eastern Australia)

** ''[[Sambucus gaudichaudiana]]'' ('''Australian Elder''' or '''White Elder'''; shady areas of south eastern Australia)

** ''[[Sambucus gaudichaudiana]]'' ('''Australian Elder''' or '''White Elder'''; shady areas of south eastern Australia)

*The '''dwarf elders''' are, by contrast to the other species, [[herbaceous]] plants, producing new stems each year from a perennial root system; they grow to 1.5&ndash;2&nbsp;[[metre|m]] tall, each stem terminating in a large flat umbel which matures into a dense cluster of glossy berries.

*The '''dwarf elders''' are, by contrast to the other species, [[herbaceous]] plants, producing new stems each year from a perennial root system; they grow to 1.5–2 [[metre|m]] tall, each stem terminating in a large flat umbel which matures into a dense cluster of glossy berries.

** ''[[Sambucus adnata]]'' ('''Asian Dwarf Elder'''; Himalaya and eastern Asia; berries red)

** ''[[Sambucus adnata]]'' ('''Asian Dwarf Elder'''; Himalaya and eastern Asia; berries red)

** ''[[Sambucus ebulus]]'' ('''European Dwarf Elder'''; central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia; berries black)

** ''[[Sambucus ebulus]]'' ('''European Dwarf Elder'''; central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia; berries black)

==Uses==

==Gallery==

[[Image:Elderberries2007-08-12.JPG|thumb|left|Ripening elderberries]]

Both flowers and berries can be made into [[elderberry wine]], and in [[Hungary]] an elderberry [[brandy]] is produced (requiring 50&nbsp;[[kilogram|kg]] of fruit to produce 1&nbsp;[[litre]] of brandy). The alcoholic drink [[sambuca]] is made by infusing elderberries{{Fact|date=August 2007}} and [[anise]] into alcohol. The berries are best not eaten [[raw food|raw]] as they are mildly [[poison]]ous, causing [[vomit]]ing, particularly if eaten unripe. The mild [[cyanide]] [[toxicity]] is destroyed by [[cooking]]. The berries can also be made into [[Fruit preserves|jam]], [[pie]]s or [[Pontack sauce]]. All green parts of the plant are poisonous, containing [[cyanogenic glycoside]]s (Vedel & Lange 1960).

Image:Upload.png| photo 1

 

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The flowers may be used to make an [[herbal tea]], which is believed as a remedy for colds and fever. In [[Europe]], the flowers are made into a [[syrup]] or [[cordial]] (in Romanian: [[Socată]]), which is diluted with water before drinking. The popularity of this traditional drink has recently encouraged some commercial [[soft drink]] producers to introduce elderflower-flavoured drinks ([[Fanta]] Shokata). The flowers can also be used to make a mildly alcoholic, sparkling elderflower 'champagne'.

Image:Upload.png| photo 3

 

</gallery>

A few clinical studies have shown effectiveness of [[Sambucol]], a formulation based on an extract of elderberry, in the treatment of both adults and children with either type A or B influenza. [[Sambucol]] reduced both the severity and duration of flu symptoms in otherwise healthy subjects, but should not be considered a substitute for influenza vaccination in high risk individuals [http://content.herbalgram.org/abc/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2702]. An ''in vitro'' study of Sambucol showed possible effectivness against the H5N1 [[avian influenza]] virus [http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/Science/Laboratory_tests_show_Sambucol_neutralises_Common_and_Avian_Flu_Virus_H5N1_52108.html].

 

The elder was formerly held to be unlucky to have in the garden. If an elder tree was cut down, a spirit known as the Elder Mother would be released and take her revenge; shown in one way by a poem known as the Wiccan Rede where one line reads, "Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed you'll be." This may derive from ancient [[Paganism|Pagan]] beliefs, which held the elder sacred to the [[Lunar deity|Moon Goddess]]. The tree could only safely be cut while chanting a rhyme to the Elder Mother.<ref>Howard, Michael. ''Traditional Folk Remedies'' (Century, 1987); pp. 134-5</ref>

 

==References and external links==

==External links==

{{commonscat|Sambucus}}

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