"The flowers of Sambucus canadensis, Linné"—(U. S. P.). In
Eclectic medicine, the fresh inner bark is preferred. COMMON
NAMES: Elder, American elder. ILLUSTRATION: Bentley and Trimen,
Med. Plants, 138. Botanical Source.—Sambucus canadensis is a
common, well-known native plant, from 5 to 12 feet high, with a
shrubby stem, filled with a light and porous pith, especially
when young. The bark is rather scabrous and cinerous. The leaves
are nearly bipinnate, and antiposed; leaflets in 3 or 4 pairs
with an odd one, oblong, oval, acuminate, smooth, serrate, with
the lower ones often 2 or 3-parted. Petioles smooth. Flowers
numerous, white, in very large, level-topped, 5-parted cymes,
and have a heavy odor. Calyx small and 5-parted; corolla
5-cleft, with segments obtuse; stamens 5; stigma obtuse, small,
and sessile. The fruit consists of numerous purplish-black
berries (W.). History.—Sambucus canadensis is an indigenous
shrub, growing in all parts of the United States, in low, damp
grounds, thickets, and waste places,