Thursday, June 14, 2012

Photo's of our gardens, plants we grow...... American Elder


By Linda Grimwade

Family                                     Caprofoliaceae
Genus and Specie               Sambucus nigra L


Also known as American elder , sweet elder and common elder. Elder is a large deciduous shrub with corky, gray-brown bark with feathery leaves. Tiny, scented cream flowers are borne in summer, followed by black berries.




Elder is a bitter, pungent, cooling herb. The flowers and fruits are used to lower fever, reduce inflammation, soothe irritation and have a diuretic and anti-mucus effect, while the leaves are insecticidal.












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