Bush grows in a variety of conditions - both wet and dry fertile soils prefering sunny locations
Large shrub or small tree [ up to 30 feet tall]
Primarily two types used.
Large shrub or small tree [ up to 30 feet tall]
Primarily two types used.
- Sambucus nigra [European or Black Elder] - used for medicinal purposes].
- Sambucus canadensis -Sweet Elder, European Elder.
- Sambucus ebulus - can be toxic
- Sambucus racemosa - grows in colder America. Has red berries ? poisonous.
Flowers are hermaphrodite and borne in large coryms of about 10 to 25 cm. [4 to 6 inchers]
- Individual flowers
- white
- 65 petals
- pollinated by flies
- honey secented
- crisp juicy
- highly aromatic
- Berries
- green red then turn black.
- Must be ripe when used.
- May be dehydrated and sprinkled on things when cooking.
- Must be cooked [boiled or baked] before being used. - contain a chemical similar to cyanide when raw]
- Leaves
- Bitter - smelling. http://www.whatfoodwhen.net/?zx=5a14bcc49ab95c61
- decidious growing in opposite pairs
- Harvested for
- Flowers:
- Elderberry tea
- Elderflower cordial
- Elderberry Tea
- Fritters
- Berries:
- Ink
- Cough syrup
- Health aspets
- 'treat wounds -when applied to skin
- respiratory illness taken internally
- colds and flu
- Strong expectorant qualities.
- promotes sweating.
- Lowers blood sugar
- chemicals in elderflower may reduce swelling of mucus lining.
- may have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer properties [!]
- elderberries stimulate the immune system
- Laxative
- May reduce levels of Theophylline [drug taken to suppress the immune system.]
- Storage for later use
- Dry the flowers
- Freeze the berries
- Make preserves, wines, cordials
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References
- Wikipedia - Elderflower Cordial
- Elderberry
- Elderberries
- Eat the weeds
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