Sambucus

Sambucus is a genus of between 20 and 30 species of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae. The various species are commonly referred to as elder, with the flowers as elderflower, and the fruit as elderberry.

Elders are mostly fast-growing shrubs or small trees 3–10 m (9.8–32.8 ft) (rarely to 14 m (46 ft)) tall, with a few species being herbaceous plants 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall. The oppositely arranged leaves are pinnate with 5–9 leaflets (or, rarely, 3 or 11). Each leaf is 5–30 centimetres (2–12 in) long, and the leaflets have serrated margins. They bear large clusters of small white or cream-coloured flowers in late spring or early summer; these are followed by clusters of small berries that are green when immature, ripening black, blue-black, or red (rarely yellow or white).

The genus name comes from the Ancient Greek word σαμβύκη (sambū́kē), an ancient wind instrument, relating to the removal of pith from the twigs to make whistles.

The taxonomy of the genus Sambucus L., originally described by Carl Linnaeus and hence its botanical authority, has been complicated by its wide geographical distribution and morphological diversity. This has led to overdescription of the species and infraspecific taxa (subspecies, varieties or forms).

The genus was formerly placed in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, but was reclassified in the moschatel family Adoxaceae due to genetic and morphological comparisons to plants in the genus Adoxa.

Species currently accepted by Plants of the World Online in this genus are:

Some other authors have differed in the species they accept:

The genus occurs in temperate to subtropical regions of the world. More widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, its Southern Hemisphere occurrence is restricted to parts of Australasia and South America. Many species are widely cultivated for their ornamental leaves, flowers, and fruit.