Sambucus
(the old Latin name used by Pliny, and derived from sambuke, an ancient musical instrument, supposed to have been made of Elder-wood). Elder. SYN. Tripetelus. ORD. Caprifoliaceoe. A genus comprising ten or twelve species of mostly hardy trees, sub-shrubs, or shrubs, rarely perennial herbs; they are dispersed over all temperate regions (South Africa excepted) and tropical mountains. Flowers white, yellow, or pinkish, small, with articulated pedicels, disposed in umbelliform corymbs or dense-flowered thyrses; calyx tube ovoid or turbinate, the limb equally three to five-lobed or toothed; corolla rotate or rotate-campanulate, equally three to five-parted, the lobes imbricated or rarely valvate; stamens five. Drupes baccate, containing three to five one-seeded stones. Leaves opposite, impari-pinnate; leaflets serrated or laciniated, naked at base, glandular or augmented by a stipuliform leaflet. Branches rather thick. Two species, S. Ebulus and S. nigra, are indigenous to Britain. The berries of the latter are largely employed in the manufacture of Elder-berry wine. Various kinds of medicine, cosmetics, &c., are obtainable from several of the species. Speaking of the common Elder, Evelyn remarks: "If the medicinal properties of the leaves, bark, berries, &c., were thoroughly known, I cannot tell what our countryman could ail for which he might not fetch a remedy from every hedge, either for sickness or wound." They species in cultivation are described below. They are all hardy, and are of very simple culture, thriving in almost any soil or situation. Propagation may be effected, in the case of the herbaceous species, by division; the shrubby kinds increase readily from cuttings. The common Elder fruits abundantly, if the soil be kept somewhat moist; its position should be an open one, fully exposed to light and air. A plantation or hedge may be readily formed by cuttings of this species, where the soil is tolerably moist. The Golden Elder (S. nigra aurea) is a fine ornamental plant for shrubberies, or for use in sub-tropical gardening. If the young shoots are regularly pinched at their points, the plants may be kept dwarf and of a fine golden colour all the summer.
S. Canadensis (Canadian). fl. white, almost scentless; cymes of five main branches. July and August. fr. deep bluish-black. l. pinnate or sub-pinnate; leaflets about nine, oblong, oval, stiffish, acuminate, more or less pubescent beneath, sometimes appendiculated at the base. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Canada to Carolina, 1761. Shrub. (B. M. Pl. 138.)
S. Ebulus (Ebulus). Dane's Blood; Dane Weed; Danewort; Deadwort; Dwarf Elder, &c. fl. white, tipped with pink, broadly campanulate; cymes 3in. to 4in. in diameter, three-rayed, corymbose, compact. July and August. fr. black, small, globose. l., leaflets four to six pairs, oblong-lanceolate, 4in. to 6in. long, serrated; stipules leafy, serrated. Stems 2ft. to 4ft. high, many, stout, ribbed and grooved. Europe (Britain), North Africa. Herbaceous perennial. (Sy. En. B. 638.)
S. nigra (black). * Boon-tree; Bur-tree; Common Elder. fl. white, rotate, 1/4in. in diameter; cymes 4in. to 6in. in diameter, flat-topped, five-rayed. June. fr. black, rarely green, small, globose. l., leaflets two to four pairs, 1in. to 3in. long, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, rarely orbicular, serrated; stipules small or absent. Trunk often as thick as the thigh; branchlets angular. h. 25ft. Europe (Britain), North Africa. Tree. (B. M. Pl. 137; Sy. En. B. 637.)
S. n. aurea (golden).* Golden Elder. A fine variety, with golden leaves.
S. n. laciniata (torn).* Parsley-leaved Elder. l., leaflets cut into fine segments. A handsome form.
S. n. monstrosa (monstrous). fl. five to fifteen-parted; stigmas five to twelve. fr. irregular. Branches striped.
S. n. rotundifolia (round-leaved). fl. in few-flowered corymbs. l. trifoliolate; leaflets petiolate, roundish, serrated. Other forms of S. nigra are: foliis argenteis and foliis luteis, leaves variegated with white and yellow respectively; leucocarpa, fruit white; virescens fruit yellowish-green.
S. pubens (downy). fl. whitish, in a thyrsoid panicle. April and May. fr. red. l. pinnate; leaflets five, membranous, ovate-lanceolate or oblong, acuminated, serrated, pubescent, but chiefly on the under side. h. 6ft. to 12ft. North America, 1812. A large shrub or low tree.
S. racemosa (racemose-flowered). * Hart's Elder; Scarlet-berried Elder. fl. white; panicle ovate. April and May. fr. scarlet. l. pinnate, pale green, large, rather smooth; leaflets five, membranous, oblong, acuminated, serrated, unequal at the base; petioles glabrous. h. 10ft. to 20ft. South Europe and Siberia, 1596. A low tree or large shrub. (F. D. 2951.) The form laciniata has jagged leaflets. plumosa has deeply pinnatifid leaflets.