1028 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM,. PART III. 
Spec. Char., §c. Arboreous. Leaves pinnate. ¢ 
Leaflets usually 5, smooth, deep green, ovate or > 

Stalks reddish. (Don’s Miil., iii. p.437.) A low 
tree, in a wild state, growing from 20ft. to 30 ft. 
high, and flowering in June, A native of Europe, 
and part of Asia, in hedges, coppices, and woods ; 
and plentiful in Britain, in like situations, but probably not truly indigenous. 
The varieties are rare, except in gardens. 
Varieties. 
¥ S.n, 2 viréscens Dec. Prod., iv. p. 322.; S. viréscens Desf. Arbr. Fr.i. 
p. 348. — Fruit yellowish green. 
¥ S.n. 3 leucocérpa. — Fruit white. 
4 S.n. 4 laciniata; S. laciniata Mill. Dict., No. 2.; (Lob. Icon., 2. t. 164. 
f. 2.; and our fig. 774.) the Parsley-leaved Elder ; has the leaflets cut 
into fine segments. 
¥ S.n. 5 rotundif olia.—Leaves trifoliolate. Leaflets petiolate, roundish, 
serrated. Corymbs few-flowered. Cultivated in the Chelsea Garden. 

* S.n. 6 monstrosa, S. monstrosa Hort., has the branches striped. Flowers 
of from 5—15 parts ; and with from 5—15 stamens. Stigmas 5—12, 
Berries irregular. 
¥S. n. 7 folis argénteis ( fig. 775.) has the leaves variegated with white, 
and forms a striking and lively-looking plant in a shrubbery. 
¥ S. n. 8 foliis hiteis, has the leaves slightly variegated with yellow. 
Description, Geography, §c. The common elder forms a small tree, re- 
markable for its vigorous growth when young, and its stationary character 
after it has attained 20 or 30 years’ growth, and as many feet high. Its ample 
cymes of cream-coloured flowers make a fine show in June, and its purplish 
black berries in September. It is observed by Sir J. E. Smith, that “ our 
uncertain summer is established by the time the elder is in full flower; and 
entirely gone when its berries are ripe.” It is a native of Europe, the north 
of Africa, and the colder parts of Asia, but not of America; and it is chiefly 
near human habitations. Dr. Walker, in 1780, thinks it is not indigenous in 
Scotland, and even that it had not been long introduced there; because he 
knew no instances of very old trees. It is common in all parts of Eng- 
land, in the neighbourhood of houses and gardens; and also in the woods 
of the temperate and southern parts of Russia. It is frequent in Greece, 
