Black elderberry
Sambucus nigra
- Description: It is a shrub or if appropriate conditions, several meters tall tree. The bark of young branches is light grey and smooth in the trunk with lengthwise furrowing. The year-rings are green.
- Habitat: Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. In
Slovakia it grows in riparian and oak-hornbeam forests. It can be found in ruins, waste-dumps,
borders of roads and other fallow lands. - Flowers: The flowers contain a lot of pollen and have a very intensive sweet odour. They are white, arranged in flat corymbs.
- Growing conditions: Semi-shade tolerant plant, demanding humidity and nutritious soil. It indicates the increased level of nitrogen in the soil.
- Leaves: The leaves are egg-shaped arranged in opposite pairs, pinnate with a serrated margin.
- Use: It is medicinal herb. The flowers are used for making syrup, essence or wine. The fruits are
suitable for producing syrups or tinctures. - Fruits: The fruit is a glossy dark purple to black,
round berry. - Interesting facts: The raw fruits are mildly
poisonous.