Blue-berry elder
- Latin name: Sambucus cerulea Raf.
- French name: Sureau bleu
- Synonym(s): Blue elder , blue elderberry
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Taxonomic Serial Number: 35320
520960 - [syn. S. cerulea Raf.] 525080 - [S. nigra ssp. cerulea (Raf.) R. Bolli] - C3 , NA3
Description
Leaves
Form
- Pinnately compound
- 5–9 leaflets on a grooved central stalk
- Leaflets lance-shaped, with long, slender, sharp tip
- Occasionally subdivided
- Leaves have unpleasant odour when crushed
- Lower surface hairless
Length
- Leaflets 5–15 cm
- Leaf and central stalk 6–12 cm
Colour
- Upper surface bluish-green
- Lower surface paler
Margin
- Coarsely and sharply toothed
Buds
Form
- Terminal bud absent
- Lateral buds large with 2 or 3 pairs of scales
- Leaf scars large, triangular, with 5–7 vein scars
Length
- 10–20 mm
Colour
- Greenish or brownish
Twigs
Form
- Very stout
- Often ridged
Colour
- Light green to brownish
- Pith white
Flowers
Form
- In flat-topped, 5-branched clusters (cymes)
Width
- 7–15 cm
Colour
- Creamy white
Structure
- Synoecious
Floral timing
- Summer, after the leaves are fully grown
Fruits
Form
- Thin-fleshed
- Juicy, sweet
- 3–seeded
- Ripen in early autumn
Width
- 3–5 mm
Colour
- Bluish-black
Structure
- Drupe
Bark
Form
- Thin, with narrow intersecting scaly ridges and warty lenticels
Colour
- Light brown, often reddish
Size
Form
- Shrubs or very small trees
Height
- To 10 m
Diameter
- 20 cm
Habitat
Site
- In forest clearings
- Usually dry open sites with gravelly or stony soils
Range
Southern British Columbia
Distribution map
