The Elderberry is a plant native to Europe and the Caucasus, now today is a cosmopolitan species, widespread in all temperate areas of the continents. In Italy it is present in all regions, from the plane to 1,400 meters of altitude.
Division: Subdivision
Spermatophyta: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledones
Family: Sambucacee (Caprifoliacee)
Fruits Elder
elderflower
General
size and scope
reaches a maximum height of 10 meters. He expanded foliage, dense and globose. The stems are upright and highly branched, with branches trending arcuate and hanging.
trunk and bark
Rather short, gnarled and uneven, with bark brown-gray, wrinkled and furrowed vertically. The central pith is white and soft.
Leaves Opposite, deciduous, petiolate, 20-30 cm long, equipped with stipules ovate or round (1 cm), acute apex. They give off an unpleasant smell. The foil is imparipinnate, consisting of 5-7 segments ovate, apex sharp and serrated edge.
reproductive structures appear in April-June, are creamy white, in corymbs ombrelliformi. The fruits are drupes globose, juicy when ripe, purple-black, containing from 2 to 5 stones monospermi shaped pine nuts.
Use
There are many uses of various parts of the elderberry plant.
flowers, fresh leaves and bark are used for medicinal preparations of cutaneous type (not for internal use because they contain alkaloids dangerous).
The flowers are used to make pancakes, cakes and a delicious syrup.
With ripe fruit you get a wash (elderberry wine) and you can prepare syrups, jellies and jams.
The pith was used in laboratory instrumentation and modeling.
Similar species
The elder coral or red (Sambucus racemosa L.) is a shrub that grows in the mountains near the mountain pastures. Present leaf segments narrower, panicles of flowers and seed heads of yellowish red.elder flowers are useful for flavoring alcoholic beverages, bitters, for soft drinks to desserts and baked goods, to preserve apples, and maintain using the available elder flowers in alternate rows.
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