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Difference between revisions of "European Elder"
→News About Elder Tree
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==News About Elder Tree== | ==News About Elder Tree== | ||
'''How to Recognize an Elderberry Plant''' | |||
*Source:http://homeguides.sfgate.com/recognize-elderberry-plant-59639.html | |||
:(San Francisco Gate) | |||
Elderberries grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. In the wild, these deciduous shrubs or small trees often grow along rivers or streams. The flowers and dark purple or black berries of the American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) and the European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) are edible and used to make jams, pies, wines and other foods. All other parts of the plant are toxic, however, as are all parts including the flowers and red berries of the red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa). | |||
1. Look at the overall shape and size of the bush or small tree. A mature American elderberry is about 12 feet tall, while the European elderberry grows up to 20 feet tall. The shrub or tree will be woody and have multiple trunks and a spreading, draping form. | |||
2. Examine the leaves of the bush. Elderberry leaves grow five to 11 on each stem, with one leaf at the top and the remaining leaves in pairs opposite each other along the stem. Each leaf is ovate with serrated edges along the ends, leading to the tip. The veins of the leaves fade or end in the tips of the serrations. Individual leaves are 2 to 6 inches long, bright green on top with paler green undersides. | |||
3. Check the bark on the woody parts of the plant. Young elderberry shrubs have a smooth, green bark spotted with white dots. As the plant matures, the bark turns gray and the white spots become small bumps in the bark. An older elderberry has brown bark that develops vertical furrows over time. | |||
4. Inspect the flowers that appear in spring or early summer. An elderberry's white flowers grow in a flat inflorescence that can be from 2 to 8 inches across. Each individual flower in the cluster is star-shaped with five petals and five protruding yellow stamens. | |||
5. Check the fruit that grows on the elderberry shrub in the fall. The berry clusters look like flat carpets of berries the same diameter as the floral inflorescence that preceded them. Each berry is only about 1/4 inch in diameter, with a small scar on the end of the berry. | |||
◘ Warnings | |||
:Even the edible purple elderberries eaten raw may cause some people to feel ill. | |||
:Do not eat red berries, unripe berries or any part of the plant other than flowers or berries. These parts are toxic. | |||
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'''Elderberry and Sugar Combat Viral Infections''' | '''Elderberry and Sugar Combat Viral Infections''' | ||
*Source:http://bangordailynews.com/2015/05/14/homestead/how-to-make-immune-boosting-tinctures-and-decoctions-from-elderberry/ | *Source:http://bangordailynews.com/2015/05/14/homestead/how-to-make-immune-boosting-tinctures-and-decoctions-from-elderberry/ | ||