229. SAMBUCUS MEXICANA MEXICAN ELDER. 25 



3-5-lobed stigma, each cell of the ovary containing a single suspended ovule. 

 Fruit a drupe-like juicy subglobose berry, tipped with the remnants of the style 

 and containing 3-5 nutlets, each containing an oblong compressed seed with 

 membranous testa, fleshy albumen and minute embryo. 



Genus composed of trees and shrubs (rarely perennial herbs), having a rank 

 smell when bruised. The name is the classical name of the Elder tree of Europe, 

 and is supposed to be derived from the Greek 6a|i(3vKi], a musical instrument, 

 probably alluding to a use of the pithy shoots. 



229. SAMBUCUS MEXICANA, PRESL.* 



MEXICAN ELDER. 



Ger., Mexicanischer Holunder; Fr., Sureau de Mexico; Sp., Sauco 



de Mexico. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves and young shoots morfcorless pubescent, with 

 stout petioles about \ in. long and usually five ovate-lanceolate acuminate leaf- 

 lets, which are sharply serrate except at their bases, 1 1-2 to 6 in. long (the lower- 

 most the smallest), rather firm, cuneate or rounded and somewhat inequilateral 

 at base; petioles slender, that of the terminal leaflet much the longest; stipules 

 occurring on vigorous shoots serrate; branchlets after the first year light reddish 

 brown with elevated lenticles; pith white. Flowers (March to July) about 1-8 in. 

 across, in large flat or depressed pubescent compound cymes, 6-8 in. across; calyx 

 5-lobed; corolla rotate, creamy white, with five rounded lobes; pistil ovoid, thick 

 and fleshy. Fruit about 1-4 in. in diameter, nearly black, juicy and destitute 

 of bloom. 



A tree sometimes 30 ft. (9 m.) in height with characteristic rather 

 irregular top of spreading branches and often twisted trunk 12 to 18 in. 

 (0.45 m.) in diameter, but usually a considerably smaller tree, with 

 yellowish-green cast of foliage, and a rather soft grayish brown librous 

 bark having prominent longitudinal and obliquely connecting ridges. 



HABITAT. The Mexican Elder is found along streams and in moist 

 bottom lands from the valley of the Nueces river in southern Texas 

 westward, throughout southern New Mexico and Arizona, into 

 southern California and southward through Mexico to Central America. 

 Isolated from these regions by a long step it has also been found in 

 Plumes county, northern California. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. The wood of the Mexican Elder is soft, 

 light, not strong, of rather coarse grain with thin medullary rays, and 

 of a light brown color with light yellowish- white sap-wood. Specific 

 Gravity, 0.4014; Percentage of Ash, 2.00; Relative Approximate 

 Fuel Value, 0.4522; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 28.75. 



USES. The wood of this tree is of little economic importance, 

 though the tree itself deserves attention for ornamental planting, owing 

 to its large handsome flower-clusters and later bunches of fruit. It is 

 occasionally planted as a shade tree and for its fruit which is edible 

 and especially prized for jellies, etc. 



* . Catwidensis, Var. Mexicana, Sarg. 



