Sambucus
Sambucus | |
---|---|
Sambucus berries (elderberries) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Dipsacales |
Family: | Adoxaceae |
Genus: | Sambucus L.[1] |
Species | |
Sambucus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae. The various species are commonly referred to as elder, elderflower or elderberry.
Description
The oppositely arranged
-
S. canadensis branches and inflorescence
-
Inflorescence of S. canadensis
-
Flowers of S. nigra
Chemistry
Sambucus fruit is rich in anthocyanidins[3] that combine to give elderberry juice an intense blue-purple coloration that turns reddish on dilution with water.[4]
Taxonomy
The
The genus was formerly placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, but was reclassified as Adoxaceae due to genetic and morphological comparisons to plants in the genus Adoxa.
Species recognized in this genus are:[6][7]
- Sambucus adnata – Himalaya and eastern Asia
- Sambucus australasica – New Guinea, eastern Australia
- Sambucus australis – South America
- Sambucus canadensis – eastern North America
- Sambucus cerulea – western North America
- Sambucus ebulus – central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia
- Sambucus gaudichaudiana – south eastern Australia
- Sambucus javanica – southeastern Asia
- Sambucus lanceolata – Madeira Island
- Sambucus latipinna – Korea, southeast Siberia
- Sambucus melanocarpa – western North America
- Sambucus microbotrys – southwest North America
- Sambucus nigra – Europe and North America
- Sambucus orbiculata[a] – western North America
- Sambucus palmensis – Canary Islands
- Sambucus peruviana – Costa Rica, Panama and northwest South America
- Sambucus pubens – northern North America
- Sambucus racemosa – northern, central and southeastern Europe, northwest Asia, western North America
- Sambucus sibirica – eastern Asia
- Sambucus sieboldiana – Japan and Korea
- Sambucus simpsonii – southeastern United States
- Sambucus tigranii– southwest Asia
- Sambucus velutina – southwestern North America
- Sambucus wightiana – western Himalayas
- Sambucus williamsii – northeast Asia
Etymology
The name comes from the Ancient Greek word σαμβύκη (sambū́kē), an ancient wind instrument, about the removal of pith from the twigs to make whistles.[8]
Distribution and habitat
The genus occurs in
Elder commonly grows near farms and homesteads. It is a
Ecology
S. callicarpa berries are consumed by birds and mammals.
Cultivation
Traditional uses of Sambucus involved berries, seeds, leaves, and flowers or component extracts.[13] Ornamental varieties of Sambucus are grown in gardens for their showy flowers, fruits and lacy foliage which support habitat for wildlife.[14] Of the many native species, three are used as ornamentals: S. canadensis, S. nigra, and S. racemosa.[15]
Toxicity
The uncooked berries and other parts of plants from this genus are poisonous.
The seeds of S. callicarpa are reported to be poisonous and may cause vomiting or diarrhea.[10]
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
---|---|
Energy | 305 kJ (73 kcal) |
18.4 g | |
Dietary fiber | 7 g |
0.5 g | |
0.66 g | |
Niacin (B3) | 3% 0.5 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) | 3% 0.14 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 14% 0.23 mg |
Folate (B9) | 2% 6 μg |
Vitamin C | 40% 36 mg |
Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
Calcium | 3% 38 mg |
Iron | 9% 1.6 mg |
Magnesium | 1% 5 mg |
Phosphorus | 3% 39 mg |
Potassium | 9% 280 mg |
Zinc | 1% 0.11 mg |
Other constituents | Quantity |
Water | 79.80 g |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[20] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[21] |
Uses
The cooked berries (pulp and skin) of most species of Sambucus are edible.[17][22]
Nutrition
Raw elderberries are 80% water, 18%
Dietary supplement
Elderberry fruit or flowers are used as
Traditional medicine
Although practitioners of traditional medicine have used elderberry over centuries,[14] there is little high-quality clinical evidence that such practices provide benefits, though the US National Institutes of Health have stated that "some preliminary research suggests that elderberry may relieve symptoms of flu or other upper respiratory infections."[17]
Pigments
The pigments are used as colorants in various products,[3] and "elderberry juice color" is listed by the US Food and Drug Administration as allowable in certified organic food products.[3] In Japan, elderberry juice is listed as an approved "natural color additive" under the Food and Sanitation Law.[24] Fibers can be dyed with elderberry juice (using alum as a mordant) to give a "muted purple" shade.[25][26]
Other
The berry of S. callicarpa can be made into wine.[10] The flowers of S. nigra are used to produce elderflower cordial. St-Germain, a French liqueur, is made from elderflowers. Hallands Fläder, a Swedish akvavit, is flavoured with elderflowers.
Hollowed elderberry twigs have traditionally been used as spiles to tap maple trees for syrup.[27] Additionally, they have been hollowed out and used as flutes, blowguns, and syringes.[28] In addition, the elderberry twigs and fruit are employed in creating dyes for basketry. These stems are dyed a very deep black by soaking them in a wash made from the berry stems of the elderberry.[14]
The pith of elder has been used by watchmakers for cleaning tools before intricate work.[29]
In culture
Notes
- ^ Wikispecies lists Sambucus orbiculata as a synonym for Sambucus canadensis
References
- ^ "Sambucus L". Germplasm Resource Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2005-10-13. Archived from the original on 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
- PMID 26028422.
- ^ USDA
- ^ "National Organic Program (NOP)-Proposed Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Processing)". Federal Register. May 15, 2007.
- ^ Applequist 2015.
- ^ TPL 2013.
- ^ Eriksson & Donoghue 1997.
- ISBN 0-394-50432-1.
- ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
- ^ ISBN 0-394-73127-1.
- ^ "Asian Long-Horned Beetle Life Cycle, Development & Life Stages". Orkin.com. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
- S2CID 253886497.
- ^ Gayle Engels; Josef Brinckmann (2013). "European elder, Sambucus nigra, L." HerbalGram, American Botanical Council. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Stevens M (2001). "Guide for common elderberry (Sambucus nigra L. ssp. Canadensis (L.)" (PDF). National Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ Boland 2012.
- ^ PMID 27734518.
- ^ a b c d e "European elder". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. September 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ PMID 6422238. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- PMID 28084608.
- ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- )
- ISBN 1-55192-882-5
- ^ a b "Dietary Supplements in the Time of COVID-19: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals". National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ISBN 9781420040074. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ISBN 9781579654252. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ISBN 9781526747242.
- ISBN 978-0-271-00690-1, p.161
- OCLC 560560606.
- ^ Britten, Frederick James (1896). The Watch & Clock Makers' Handbook, Dictionary and Guide. Spon & Chamberlain. p. 281. Archived from the original on 23 October 2004.
- ^ Diacono, Mark (15 June 2013). "In praise of the elderflower". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ Jen Munson (25 October 2016). "Consider warding off witches, monsters with these spooktacular herbs this Halloween". The News-Herald, Digital First Media, Denver, CO. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ Scott-Brown, A; Walker, K. "Elder power". Read & watch. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (Century, 1987); pp. 134–5
- ISBN 9780738775104.
- ISBN 9781351978736. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ^ Brown, Jen (30 July 2007). "Confused by Potter? Author sets record straight". Today. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
Sources
- Applequist, W.L. (January 2015). "A brief review of recent controversies in the taxonomy and nomenclature of Sambucus nigra sensu lato". PMID 27158181.
- Boland, Todd (15 September 2012). "Ornamental Elderberries". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- Eriksson, Torsten; Donoghue, Michael J. (1997). "Phylogenetic Relationships of Sambucus and Adoxa (Adoxoideae, Adoxaceae) Based on Nuclear Ribosomal ITS Sequences and Preliminary Morphological Data". JSTOR 2419828.
- TPL (2013). "Sambucus". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health entry for European Elder
Further reading
- Bolli, R. (1994). "Revision of the Genus Sambucus". Dissertationes Botanicae. 223.
- Donoghue, Michael J.; Eriksson, Torsten; Reeves, Patrick A.; Olmstead, Richard G. (2001). "Phylogeny and phylogenetic taxonomy of Dipsacales, with special reference to Sinadoxa and Tetradoxa (Adoxaceae)" (PDF). Harvard Papers in Botany. 6 (2): 459–479. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2019-07-24.