Elder Flower

''Sambucus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae. The various species are commonly called elder or elderberry. The genus was formerly placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, but was reclassified as Adoxaceae due to genetic and morphological comparisons to plants in the genus ''Adoxa''.

Description

The oppositely arranged leaves are pinnate with 5–9 leaflets (or, rarely, 3 or 11). Each leaf is long, and the leaflets have serrated margins. They bear large clusters of small white or cream-colored flowers in late spring; these are followed by clusters of small black, blue-black, or red berries (rarely yellow or white).

Color

Sambucus fruit is rich in anthocyanidinsColors Derived from Agricultural Products
USDA that combine to give elderberry juice an intense blue-purple coloration that turns reddish on dilution with water. These pigments are used as colorants in various products, and "elderberry juice color" is listed by the US FDA as allowable in certified organic food products. In Japan, elderberry juice is listed as an approved "natural color additive" under the Food and Sanitation Law. Fibers can be dyed with elderberry juice (using alum as a mordant) to give .

Toxicity

Although the cooked berries (pulp and skin) of most species of ''Sambucus'' are edible,McVicar, Jekka (2007). "Jekka's Complete Herb Book" p. 214–215. Raincoast Books, Vancouver. the uncooked berries and other parts of plants from this genus are poisonous. Leaves, twigs, branches, seeds, roots, flowers, and berries of ''Sambucus'' plants produce cyanogenic glycosides, which have toxic properties. Ingesting a sufficient quantity of cyanogenic glycosides from berry juice, flower tea, or beverages made from fresh leaves, branches, and fruit has been shown to cause illness, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and weakness. In August 1983, a group of 25 people in Monterey County, California, became suddenly ill by ingesting elderberry juice pressed from fresh, uncooked ''Sambucus mexicana'' berries, leaves, and stems. The concentration of cyanogenic glycosides is higher in tea made from flowers (or leaves) than from the berries.

The seeds of '' Sambucus callicarpa'' are reported to be poisonous and may cause vomiting or diarrhea.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the genus ''Sambucus'' L., originally described by Carl Linnaeus and hence its botanical authority, has been complicated by its wide geographical distribution and morphological diversity. This has led to overdescription of the species and infraspecific taxa (subspecies, varieties or forms).
The name comes from the Greek word ''sambuce'', an ancient wind instrument, about the removal of pith from the twigs to make whistles.

Species recognized in this genus are:

* ''Sambucus adnata'' – Himalaya and eastern Asia
* ''Sambucus australasica'' – New Guinea, eastern Australia
* ''Sambucus australis'' – South America
* ''Sambucus canadensis'' – eastern North America
* '' Sambucus cerulea'' – western North America
* '' Sambucus ebulus'' – central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia
* ''Sambucus gaudichaudiana'' – south eastern Australia
* ''Sambucus javanica'' – southeastern Asia
* ''Sambucus lanceolata'' – Madeira Island
* ''Sambucus latipinna'' – Korea, southeast Siberia
* ''Sambucus melanocarpa'' – western North America
* '' Sambucus microbotrys'' – southwest North America
* '' Sambucus nigra'' – Europe and North America
* ''Sambucus orbiculata'' – western North America
* '' Sambucus palmensis'' – Canary Islands
* '' Sambucus peruviana'' – Costa Rica, Panama and northwest South America
* ''Sambucus pubens'' – northern North America
* ''Sambucus racemosa'' – northern, central and southeastern Europe, northwest Asia, western North America
* ''Sambucus sibirica'' – eastern Asia
* ''Sambucus sieboldiana

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