Sambucus nigra (fruit)

Nomenclature

Sambucus nigra L.   Caprifoliaceae  
Standardized common name (English): European elder

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus_nigra, retrieved 02/27/2012).

Sambucus nigra is a species complex of elder native to most of Europe.

It is most commonly called Elder, Elderberry, Black Elder, European Elder, European Elderberry, European Black Elderberry, Common Elder, or Elder Bush when distinction from other species of Sambucus is needed. It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, primarily in sunny locations.

It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 4–6 m (rarely to 10 m) tall. The bark, light grey when young, changes to a coarse grey outer bark with lengthwise furrowing. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, 10–30 cm long, pinnate with five to seven (rarely nine) leaflets, the leaflets 5–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, with a serrated margin.

The hermaphrodite flowers are borne in large corymbs 10–25 cm diameter in mid summer, the individual flowers white, 5–6 mm diameter, with five petals; they are pollinated by flies.

The fruit is a dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in the late autumn; they are an important food for many fruit-eating birds, notably Blackcaps.

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Microscopic Entries

Sclerenchyma fibers showing criss-crossed pattern observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution.cellular structures identified in this botanical specimen are the sclerenchyma fibers showing criss-crossed pattern and the scattered oil droplets when observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories