Elder
Sambucus nigra
The common Elder is a small deciduous (annual leaf shedding) tree, native in the British Isles. Elder is frequently found growing in hedgerows as a large shrub or small tree up to 5m tall, often with multiple stems arising at or near ground level. The bark is usually light brown and with age develops a rough texture of small platelets. The wood is soft and brittle with a distinctive pithy centre to the stems. A human ear shaped fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae) commonly referred to as Jelly Ear or Judas Ear is often found growing on dead Elder stems. The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem and are composed of between 5 to 10 separate segments (a form called pinnate) usually each leaflet having serrated edges. When crushed, the leaves have a distinctive rank smell. In June and July Elder is readily identified by the flat clusters (called corymbs) of dazzling creamy white flowers which later develop into drooping masses of small dark purple or black berries, ripening in late summer.
Season/Life cycle
| Flowers | Leaves | Fruit |
| Corymbs of small densely packed creamy white flowers early summer | Light green, opposite, pinnate with serrated edges. | Dense masses of drooping dark purple or black berries, ripening in autumn |
Uses
In nature the berries are a valuable food source for insect larvae and birds. Both berries and flowers have long been used to make elderberry wine; the flowers alone can be steeped in water and mixed with sugar to produce a refreshing non alcoholic cordial or simply left to soak in boiling water for a few minutes to make herbal tea. Farm workers traditionally used a sprig of elder leaves in their hat brims to ward off insect pests on hot, still days. It has been reported that clockmakers traditionally used the pith to clean their specialist tools.
