145 



ELDER. SAMBUCUS. 



Natural order, Dumosa. In Botany, a genus of the 

 Pentandria Trigynia class. 



** Though lowly shrubs, and trees that shade the plain, 

 Delight not all." 



BOERHAAVE, the celebrated physician of Leyden, is 

 said to have held this tree in so great veneration, that he 

 seldom passed it without taking off his hat and paying 

 reverence to it. 



It appears that we have taken the word Elder from 

 Holder, the Dutch name of this tree, as we learn from 

 Turner that it was formerly called Bourtre in this coun- 

 try, and Coles tells us that the Scotch called it Boretree 

 in his time, " perhaps," says this author, " because the 

 pith being done forth, it seemeth as if it were bored." 



The Greeks named it axr^, as it delights to grow on 

 the brinks and shadowy banks of rivers. The derivation 

 of the Latin name is uncertain : some etymologists state, 

 that it is called Sambucus from Sambyx, the person who 

 is thought to have first noticed the plant ; others think it 

 should be called Sabucus, from the likeness that the 

 musical instrument called Sabuck, or Sambuck, has to the 

 hollow rods of the Elder when the pith is out. 



The common elder-tree, Sambucus nigra, is a native of 

 England, and is found also in most parts of Europe, as it 

 will grow on any soil, and in situations where few other 

 trees would live. 



The elder thrives near wet ditches, and is often seen 





