Sambucus nigra L.

Shrub or small tree to c. 6 m high. Stems grey, strongly lenticellate; vegetative shoots with thick white pith. Leaflets (3)–5–7, dark purple when very young, soon green. Petiole to c. 7 cm long on flowering branches, ± hairy. Petiolules hairy; lateral petiolules < 1 cm long; terminal petiolule > 1 cm long. Lamina of terminal leaflet 4.5–11–(13) × 3.5–6–(7) cm, broad-elliptic to broad-ovate, glabrous, or ± hairy on veins beneath and on midrib above, serrate except towards base; apex acute to cuspidate. Lamina of lateral leaflets smaller and narrower. Infl. a large flat corymb, mostly 10–20 cm across, glabrous or nearly so, with slender peduncles and pedicels which usually become red or purple at fruiting, or occasionally remain green. Fls foetid. Calyx 0.5 mm long. Corolla white; lobes 2.5–3 mm long, broad-elliptic. Stamens < corolla. Fr. 4–8.5 mm diam., globose or subglobose, usually shining black, occasionally green. Pyrenes c. 3 mm long, ovoid-oblong, rugose.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Jan.