Sambucus peruviana

Sambucus peruviana is a species of tree in the family Adoxaceae. It is native to Central America and South America.

Description

A tree. It grows 8-12 m tall. The trunk is irregular shaped. The leaves are compound with 7-9 leaflets. These have teeth along the edge and are hairy underneath. The flowers are white and in groups 18-22 cm long. They have a scent. The fruit are black berries 1.2 cm across. They have 3-5 seeds.

Edible Uses

Fruit - cooked and made into a syrup. Used in the preparation of jams, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for drinks, jams and wine.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fruits can be made into jams, drinks, and wines. The leaves, flowers and fruits have medicinal properties; analgesic, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, sudorific. The wood is hard and resistant, used for construction, tools and making of quenas.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows between 2,800-3,900 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Andes, Argentina, Bolivia*, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, South America,

Cultivation

A plant of higher elevations in the tropics, often found at elevations over 3,000 metres.

Other Uses

The plant is cultivated as a part of hedges in Peru. It is also used in soil stabilization and/or water conservation schemes on an experimental basis in Bolivia.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

VERY TOXIC

Pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Jakec

Safe

Sambucus peruviana

Sambucus peruviana

(c) Alberto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alberto

Pokeweed: Thick red/purple herbaceous stems (no bark), berries in a line (raceme), simple large leaves, large white taproot.

Sambucus peruviana: Woody bark, berries in broad flat clusters (cymes), compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets.

Also Known As

Kiola, R'ayan, Sauco

References (2)

• Hensen, I., 1992, La Flora de la Comunidad Chorojo, Su uso, taxonomía científica y vernacular. Agroecología Universidad Cochabamba p 23
• Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 612

More from Adoxaceae

Sambucus nigra

European Elderberry, Black Elder

Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis

Canadian elderberry

Sambucus nigra subsp. cerulea

Blue black elder

Sambucus nigra subsp. peruviana

Peruvian elderberry, Peru black elder

Sambucus pubens

American red elder, Eastern Red Elderberry, Eastern red-berry elder

Sambucus racemosa

Red Elder, Red-berried elder, Alpine elder