Sambucus callicarpa
Greene
Red coast elder, Pacific Red Elder
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Wikimedia Commons - Douglas Goldman
Description
A shrub or small tree. They grow to 1.5-4 m high. The leaves have 5-7 leaflets. Each leaflet is 6-16 cm long. They are sword shaped and with sharp teeth. They are hairy along the veins. The flowers are yellowish-white. The flowers are star shaped and fragrant. They are in rounded clusters which are 10 cm across. The berries are purple black or red and 4-6 mm across.
Edible Uses
The flowers and fruit are edible, used for jellies, pies, and wine.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are used for jellies, pies and wine. CAUTION: They are also claimed to be poisonous.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Known Hazards
The fruit are claimed to be poisonous.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. They occur in low lying damp areas.
Where It Grows
Britain, Canada, Europe, North America, USA,
Notes
There are about 25 Sambucus species. Also put in the family Sambucaceae.
Dangerous Lookalikes
This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Jakec
Red coast elder
Sambucus callicarpa
Wikimedia Commons
Pokeweed: Thick red/purple herbaceous stems (no bark), berries in a line (raceme), simple large leaves, large white taproot.
Red coast elder: Woody bark, berries in broad flat clusters (cymes), compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets.
References (3)
- Farrar, J.L., 1995, Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. Iowa State University press/Ames p 175
- Fl. Franciscana 3:342. 1892
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
