What is "sambucus nigra"

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).

elderberry \el"der*ber`ry\, n. (Bot.)

1. The berrylike drupe of the elder. That of the Old World elder ( Sambucus nigra) and that of the American sweet elder ( S. Canadensis) are sweetish acid, and are eaten as a berry or made into wines or jellies.

2. the European variety of elder (see 3rd elder), a common black-fruited shrub or small tree of Europe and Asia; the fruit is used for wines and jellies.

   Syn: bourtree, black elder, common elder, European elder, Sambucus nigra.

bourtree \bourtree\ n. common black-fruited shrub or small tree ( Sambucus nigra) of Europe and Asia; -- the fruit is used for wines and jellies.

Syn: black elder, common elder, elderberry, European elder.

Sambucus nigra is a species complex of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae native to most of Europe and North America. Common names include elder, elderberry, black elder, European elder,' European elderberry' and European black elderberry. It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, primarily in sunny locations.