SAMBUCUS NXGRA.-COMMON ELDER. 
Class V. PENTANDRIA. Order III. TRIGYNIA. 
Natural Order, CAPRI FOLIACF^E. THE HONEYSUCKLE TRIBE. 
Fig. (a) represents a flower somewhat magnified ; ( b ) the calyx, with the germen and stigmas; (c) the fruit. 
The Common Elder is a well-known native tree, growing in hedges and woods, flowering in June, and 
ripening its berries in September. In Scotland it is called Boretre or Bourtree. 
The black berried Elder rises with a woody trunk, that is filled with a white medullary substance or 
pith, and covered externally with a rough, ash-coloured bark, to the height of fifteen or twenty feet. The 
younger branches are smooth when young, and contain a very large proportion of a light spongy pith. The 
leaves are very long, of a shining green colour, and composed usually of two pair of leaflets, with an odd one, 
which are pointed, serrated, smooth, and nearly equal at the base. The flowers are numerous, cream- 
coloured, and form a large beautiful cyme, with five principal branches, and many small ones at the extre- 
mity of the stem and branches. The calyx is superior, permanent, and cut into five deep segments ; the 
corrolla is synpetalous, nearly wheel-shaped, with five deep, obtuse, somewhat reflexed segments ; the 
filaments are five, awl-shaped, about the length of the corrolla, and bearing roundish, heart-shaped, yellow 
anthers. The germen is ovate, without a style ; but supporting three obtuse stigmas. The berries are 
spherical, of one cell, containing three, sometimes two seeds, convex on one side, angular on the other. 
The berries have at first a reddish hue ; but become of a purplish black colour when ripe. 
There are two principal varieties of the Common Elder, one of them with cut leaves, and hence called 
parsley-leaved elder; and the white-berried, Sambucus acinis albis of J. Banhin. The berries of both are 
whiter, and more pleasantly flavoured than in the original species. 
The generic name, Sambucus, occurs in the writings of Pliny and other ancient Authors, evidently 
adapted from trapfivicq, an instrument of music; in the construction of which, says De Theis, “the wood of 
this tree, on account of its hardness, was used.” 
Qualities. — The inner bark possesses little smell, but has a sweetish, bitter taste, that is succeeded by 
acrimonious effects. The flowers have an oppressive, sickly odour, which they yield to water ; and, by distilla- 
tion, an essential oil may be obtained from them. The berries, which are inodorous, have a sweet taste, 
and yield a purple juice, which is a delicate test for alkalies and acids. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — The Common Elder is the a/cry of the Greek writers ; and we 
are informed by Dr. Ainslie, that the Arabians and Syrians of the present day are well acquainted with it, 
and use the inner green bark as aperient, and deobstruent. On account of these properties, it was used also 
by Boerhaave and Sydenham, in dropsies ; and is still a popular remedy with the poor in some parts of our 
own country. Boerhaave is said to have regarded the Elder with such reverence for its medicinal virtues, 
that he sometimes took off his hat in passing a tree of this species. Its action, however, both as an emetic 
and cathartic is occasionally so violent, that inflammation of the intestines has been produced, and death 
has been the result. The leaves and young buds are also purgative ; and from the berries, which are sup- 
posed to be diaphoretic, a laxative syrup (olim Rob Sambuci) is ordered to be made, both by the Edinburgh 
and Dublin colleges.* The flowers, which according to Linnaeus, f are poisonous to peacocks, were formerly 
administered in the form of infusion for erysipelas, rheumatism, small-pox, &c.| but whether says Professor 
* The berries are said to be poisonous to poultry. Barthol. Hist. anat. rarior, Cent. iv. p- 284. 
•f Ftor. Smc. p. 79. 
J Usitatissimi suntflores sambuci in praxi medica, atque sub forma infusi frequenter bibuntur in Erysipelate, &c. ( Bergius , 
/of. 245.) 
