Elderberry

:This page is about the plant. For other uses of the word Elder, see the disambiguation page Elder.

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Elder or Elderberry (Sambucus) is a genus of between 5-30 species of fast-growing shrubs or small trees (two species herbaceous), formerly treated in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, but now shown by genetic evidence to be correctly classified in the moschatel family Adoxaceae. The genus is mainly native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with two species in the Southern Hemisphere.

Related Topics:
Shrub - Tree - Herbaceous - Caprifoliaceae - Genetic - Adoxaceae - Northern Hemisphere - Southern Hemisphere

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The 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 coloured flowers in the late spring, that are followed by clusters of small red, bluish or black (rarely yellow or white) berries. The berries are a very valuable food resource for many birds, the flowers are eaten by the larva of The V-Pug moth and the leaves by that of another moth, the Buff Ermine. The crushed foliage and immature fruit have a strong foetid smell.

Related Topics:
Leaves - White - Cream - Flowers - Spring - Berries - Bird - Larva - The V-Pug - Moth - Buff Ermine

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