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Sambucus racemosa
(Red Elderberry). Synonym: Sambucus microbotrys. Montane, subalpine.
Disturbed areas, openings. Spring. Red Elderberry bushes are very common along roadsides, trails, meadows, and open woods. The bushes often have a number of light brown dead stalks that easily snap, exposing a pithy stem. Early summer clusters of white flowers are followed by red/black berries. These do not last long since they are favorites of bear, deer, and elk which bite off the entire berry cluster leaving a snipped stalk. Elderberries of the eastern United States are prized for pies and wine, but S. racemosa of the western U. S. is usually dry and bitter. Linnaeus named this genus and this species in 1753; his name for the species was Sambucus racemosa. The species was later renamed Sambucus pubens in 1803 by Andre Michaux from a specimen he collected in "the mountains of Pennsylvania". Per Axel Rydberg renamed the species Sambucus microbotrys in 1901 from a specimen collected by Charles Bessey on Pike's Peak. Genetic research places the Sambucus genus in Adoxaceae. "Sambucus", an ancient musical instrument, refers to the use of the hollow stems as a whistle and "microbotrys" means "tiny grapes". "Racemosa" refers to the raceme structure of the flower cluster. |
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Sambucus racemosa
(Red Elderberry). Synonym: Sambucus microbotrys. Viburnaceae (Arrow-Wood Family or Moschatel Family) Synonyms: Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae Montane, subalpine.
Disturbed areas, openings. Spring. |
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Sambucus racemosa
(Red Elderberry). Synonym: Sambucus microbotrys. Viburnaceae (Arrow-Wood Family or Moschatel Family) Synonyms: Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae Montane, subalpine.
Disturbed areas, openings. Spring. A young Sambucus racemosa gains its chlorophyll and stretches upward. |
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Sambucus racemosa
(Red Elderberry). Synonym: Sambucus microbotrys. Viburnaceae (Arrow-Wood Family or Moschatel Family) Synonyms: Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae Montane, subalpine.
Disturbed areas, openings. Spring. |
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Sambucus racemosa
(Red Elderberry). Synonym: Sambucus microbotrys. Viburnaceae (Arrow-Wood Family or Moschatel Family) Synonyms: Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae Montane, subalpine.
Disturbed areas, openings. Spring. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Sambucus racemosa |
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