What is "elder tree"

Elder \El"der\, n. [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs ( Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species ( S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. The European elder ( Sambucus nigra) is also called the elderberry, bourtree, Old World elder, black elder, and common elder.

Box elder. See under 1st Box.

Dwarf elder. See Danewort.

Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder.
--Shak.

Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).