BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
183 
construction of which the wood is supposed to have been employed. The genus is placed in the Linnasan class 
Pentandria, from its five stamens; and in the order Trigynia, from its three styles. 
1.—THE DWARF ELDER, OR DANEWORT. (Sambucus Ebulus, Lin.) 
Engravings.— Eng. Bot., t. 475 ; 2nd ed., t. 444. 
Specific Character. —Cymes with three main branches. Stipulas leafy. Stem herbaceous. (Smith.) 
Description, &Cc —This plant is only found in some parts of England ; but where it does grow, it is 
generally in large patches, which cover the ground entirely for a considerable distance, as it spreads rapidly by 
means of its creeping roots. It bears abundance of purplish flowers, and these are succeeded by a number of 
small black berries, which are violently cathartic in their properties. The whole plant is rather ornamental; 
but it has such a very disagreeable smell, that no animal will touch it. It is a perennial, and its flowers are 
produced in July. 
2. —THE COMMON ELDER. (Sambucus nigra, Lin.) 
Engravings,— Eng. Bot. t. 476 ; 2nd ed. t. 445. 
Specific Character. —Cymes with five main branches. Stipulas obsolete. Leaflets ovate. Stem arboreous. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —The common Elder is one of the most abundant of the British low trees, as it is found 
in every cottage and farm garden, and almost in every hedge. One reason of its being so abundant is, no doubt, 
the great use that is made, by cottagers and country people generally, of its fruit; as on this account, they 
would rather encourage than check its growth. Elder-wine is a well known cordial, and what is called elder- 
rob is universally recommended as a remedy for a sore throat. Different preparations of elder are also given to 
children for various complaints; and, in short, many country house-wives would find the loss of their elder 
bushes a very serious evil. The plant is generally only a shrub in England ; but it becomes a tree in Scotland, 
and towards the north of that country it frequently attains the height of thirty feet. The beautiful cut-leaved 
Elder of the gardens is only a variety of the common species. 
§ 2.— Cornets, Kunth. Corolla polypetalous. 
GENUS VI. 
THE DOG-WOOD. (Cornus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx four-toothed, deciduous. Petals four, j or herbaceous plants, with simple leaves, and cymose or umbellate 
Stamens four. Drupe with a two-celled nut.—Erect deciduous shrubs I flowers. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c.— There are only two species of Cornus natives of Great Britain, and only one of these is 
a shrub. The name of Cornus is derived from cornu , a horn; in allusion to the hard nature of the wood. The 
genus is placed in the Linnsean class Tetrandria, on account of its four stamens; and in the order Monogynia, 
from its single style. 
* Flowers naked. 
1.— THE COMMON DOG-WOOD. (Cornus sanguinea, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 249 ; 2nd ed., t. 227. 
Specific Character. —Branches straight. Leaves green on both sides. Cymes naked, flat. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This shrub grows abundantly in every part of Great Britain, but most plentifully on 
