European black elderberry
Sambucus nigra
The name 'Elder' is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'aeld', meaning fire, because its hollow stems were used as bellows to blow air into the heart of a flame.
- Scientific name
- Sambucus nigra
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Dipsacales › Viburnaceae › Sambucus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Woodland edges, nitrogen-rich hedgerows, scrubland, and waste ground.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, North America
- Size
- 3 to 6 meters in height
- Lifespan
- 60 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Agricultural intensification leading to the removal of traditional hedgerows and pesticide drift.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to the touch, but all parts except the flowers and fully ripe, cooked berries are toxic. Do not ingest raw berries, leaves, or bark as they contain cyanogenic glycosides which cause nausea and vomiting. If raw parts are consumed, monitor for symptoms and seek medical advice if distress occurs.
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Photo: Attila Oláh, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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