142 ELDER 



* Berry purple black, containing 3 5 seeds 

 in as many cells protected by a thin 

 cartilaginous endocarp. 



Sambucus nigra, L. Elder (Fig. 134). 



It is not easy to classify the elder-berry. Morpho- 

 logically it resembles the berries of Lonicera, Symphori- 

 carpos, &c, beiDg an inferior 3 5-ehambered fruit with 



H.GUNTHER..XA 



Fig. 134. Elder, Sambucus nigra. 1, flowering shoot ; 2, flower in 

 vertical section, enlarged; 3, fruit; 4, floral diagram (Wo). 



one seed in each chamber, but the lining-walls of the 

 chambers become brittle, white and nearly bony, so that 

 the fruit is often termed a baccate-drupe. It is globose, 

 shining, purplish-black, soft and aromatic, 5 6 mm. in 

 diameter and marked above with the perigone remnants. 



