ELDER
ELDER
(Sambucus)
A genus of
plants of the natural order Caprifoliaceae, sub-order Sambuceae, consisiting
chiefly of shrubs and trees, with pinnate leaves, small flowers of which the corolla is wheel-shaped and 5-cleft, and
3-seeded berries.
The species
are very widely distributed- the common elder, the Bourtree of the scotch, is a native of Europe, the north of Asia,
and the north of Africa. It is found in all parts of Britain. It is a very
large shrub, sometimes a small tree, with rather large leaves, and large
terminal cymes of cream colored flowers, which are followed by small black-or
rarely whitish-berries.
Its leaves
and young shoots diffuse a narcotic odour,
and it is said to be dangerous to sleep under its shade. The young leaf-buds are
so violently purgative to be considered dangerous. the inner bark has a biter
acrid taste.
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