CLASS V. ORDER III.] SAMBDCUS. 441 



y. laciniata. (Fig. 506.^ Leaflets cut and lacinateil. — S. laciniata 

 Mill. Diet. 



5. virescens. Fruit green. — S. virescens, Desf. 



A small bushy tree, with opposite branches, of quick growth, Ire- 

 quently putting out shoots a yard long during the year, which are 

 full, of a soft spongy pith, and clothed with a smooth pale shining 

 grey bark, mostly abundantly scattered over with small lenticular 

 glands. Leaves opposite, pinnate, with striated channeled footstalks, 

 smooth or hairy, with mostly two pairs of leaflets and an odd one, ovate- 

 lanceolate, with a tapering point and generally oblique base, sessile, or 

 on short partial footstalks, of a deep green, smooth, sometimes hairy, 

 especially on the mid-rib and branched veins of the paler under side ; 

 the margin serrated in the variety S., cut and lacinated. Stipules two 

 fleshy warts at the base of the leaves. Inflorescence terminal, cymes 

 of five principal branches, much divided above. Flmcers numerous, 

 regular, cream coloured, with a sweetish faint unpleasant smell. 

 Calyx limb of five spreading teeth. Corolla wheel-shaped, limb of 

 five roundish ovate segments. Stamens with awl-shaped stout fila- 

 ments, scarcely as long as the corolla. Anthers oblong, notched, 

 yellow. Stigmas obtuse, sessile. Fruit a dark purplish black small 

 round berry, sometimes, as in the varieties, virescens green, and in 

 leucocarpa white, with three or four seeds. 

 Habitat. — Woods, hedges, &c. ; frequent. 

 A Tree; flowering in June. 



Perhaps there are none of our native plants applied to so manv 

 useful purposes as the elder. The inner bark of the tree was formerly 

 much used, and entered into the list of the Pharmacopaeias ; it has 

 scarcely any smell, and but very little taste, except that of slight 

 sweetness, with a degree of acrimony ; it was prepared by boiling three 

 handsful in a quart of milk and water till reduced to a pint, one half 

 to be taken at night, and the remainder in the morning, and this 

 repeated for several days; it usually acts both as a purgative and 

 emetic. The expressed juice in doses of about half an ounce was 

 also given, medicinally, in many chronic diseases; it is now, how- 

 ever, except in some country places, out of use. The wood is white, 

 and close grained, and is esteemed as one of our most useful woods for 

 the purpose of making knife handles, skewers, small toys, and orna- 

 mental articles. The leaves are strewed about barns to keep away 

 mice, and in the subterranean passages of moles to drive them away, as 

 it is said they have a great objection to them ; boiling water, in which 

 the leaves have been infused, sprinkled over delicate plants liable to the 

 attack of small insects, protects them from injury, as few insects will 

 feed upon elder: indeed it seems very objectionable, if not poisonous, 

 to most of them. The undeveloped flower buds, when pickled with 

 vinegar, form one of the best substitutes for capers ; and the expanded 

 flowers, which have an agreeable smell, are, when fresh, used in the form 



