Posted: Sun Jul 17, 05 6:16 pm Post subject: Red Elderberries
Today I came across lots of bushes that look a lot like elder. Only thing is they are in fruit and it's red. I know common elder doesn't fruit till well into September which is why I'm unsure. Does anyone know if red elder would be in fruit at this time of year and if this is it?
Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25795 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 05 6:40 pm Post subject:
It looks like some form of Rowan to me, a bit of digging turns up Sargent's Rowan but even for that it seems early.
sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 05 7:10 pm Post subject:
Im sure its not rowan, or even one of the varients. will try to work it out
It isn't a rowan. Doesn't look quite right for a red elder either (there are red varieties, you see them more often in some parts of Scotland than elsewhere). Did it smell like an elder (nasty smell to the leaves)?
Cab, didn't see your post before my last. I'm actually in Scotland.. never smelt the leafs. I was sure red elder could be used as you would common elder and those sites I found were referring to North American varieties I think. Could it be different? Has anyone used red elderberries?
I don't have any books handy, but I'll look later to confirm; I don't think it's THAT red elder. That one you refer to is the American species, I think our native one is a subspecies of S. nigra. As I say, I need to check that later on.
Cab, didn't see your post before my last. I'm actually in Scotland.. never smelt the leafs. I was sure red elder could be used as you would common elder and those sites I found were referring to North American varieties I think. Could it be different? Has anyone used red elderberries?
You know, we really ought to stop crossing our postings like this, I didn't see that before posting MY last comment
I believe it's useful in the same way as elder; I'm currently wasting time while burning some info to disc at work, but I'll check my books later when I get home.
Right then. The Complete Book of British Berries lists a red berried introduced species, Sambucus racemosa (that's the one in the links), and says that it's naturalised in various places, including East Scotland. Richard Mabey backs that up in Flora Britannica.
So I was wrong, it most likely is that species, if elder it is.
It isn't listed as toxic in the berries book, at least not when cooked.
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