118 
SAMBUCUS NIGRA. 
white, and grow in large flat umbels ; the calyx is permanent, divided 
into five segments, and placed above the germen ; the corolla is 
monopetalous, wheel-shaped, and divided into five obtuse and 
somewhat convex segments ; the five filaments are about the length of 
the corolla, tapering, spreading, and support roundish yellow 
antherse ; the germen is oval, and furnished with a prominent gland, 
which supports three blunt stigmata ; the fruit is a small round 
succulent berry, containing three seeds, and when ripe of a deep 
purplish or black colour. The common elder, flowers in May and 
its fruit ripens in September. There are two varieties of the 
Sambucus Nigra, one with variegated leaves, and another with white 
berries ; it has been doubted by some botanists, if this last is not a 
distinct species, the lobes of the leaves being much less, and but 
slightly serrated compared to the black elder ; we have raised many 
trees from the seeds of the white elder berries, which have invariably 
produced white berries, and also the distinguishing characters of the 
leaves. 
The London markets are annually supplied with large quantities of 
the fruit for medicinal and domestic purposes ; which is not however 
the produce of the black elder only, but also of the Sambucus Ebulus, 
or dwarf elder; it being a common practice with those persons who 
supply the markets, to mix the fruit of the latter with that of the 
former ; this fraud is of no consequence, as the fruit of both possess 
the same medicinal properties, and may be readily distinguished ; the 
former staining the finger a red colour, and the latter the colour of a 
withered leaf. 
Sensible Qualities, &c. The plant has an unpleasant and 
somewhat narcotic smell, and a disagreeable bitter taste ; the berries 
when ripe are sweetish, and contain malic acid. 
The flowers have a bitterish and mucilaginous taste, and an 
agreeable and somewhat aromatic smell : these qualities are commu- 
nicated to water, spirit, and oil ; in distillation with water, a small 
quantity of a butyraceous essential oil separates, having the smell 
and flavour of the flowers. 
We are told by Withering, if fruit trees and many vegetables, (viz. 
cabbages, &c.) which are subject to blight from insects, are whipped 
with the green leaves and branches of elder, the insects will not 
attack them.* The berries are said to be very deleterious to poultry, 
and the flowers also to peacocks.f 
* Phil. Trans, vol. Ixii. p. 348. 
t Linn. Fior. Saec. p. 79. 
