Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Dipsacales>Caprifoliaceae>Sambucus canadensis L.
| A fairly common large shrub of moist, disturbed habitats with opposite compound leaves, large white flat-topped flower clusters, and then edible (though nearly tasteless) purple-black fruits, which technically are drupes, not berries. (I don't think the name elderdrupe would catch on.) Sometimes lumped in as subspecies canadensis of the European Sambucus nigra. Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009. |
| Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009. |
| Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009. |
|
Durham Co., NC 6/8/03. |
| Dare Co., NC 6/1/07. |
| Dare Co., NC 6/1/07. |
| The fruits are nearly black when ripe and can be used for dyeing fabric. Though the ripe fruits are edible (in small quantities), all other parts of the plant are poisonous. Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05. |
More information:
Floridata
Poisonous Plants of NC
Southwest Virginia Flora
University of Connecticut
USDA PLANTS Database
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina
cwcook@duke.eduAll photographs and text ©2011 by Will Cook unless otherwise indicated