American black elderberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American black elderberry
• American elder
• Canada elderberry
• common elderberry
• white elder
• American elderberry
• Canadian elder
• elderberry
• sweet elder
• black elderberry
• common elder
• desert elderberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sambucus canadensis var. glabra
• Sambucus canadensis subsp. laciniata
• Sambucus orbiculata
• Sambucus canadensis var. aurea
• Sambucus canadensis f. delicatissima
• Sambucus canadensis f. maxima
• Sambucus planteriensis
• Sambucus canadensis var. maxima
• Sambucus plantierensis
• Sambucus pubens var. maxima
• Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis
• Sambucus intermedia var. insularis
• Sambucus eberhardtii
• Sambucus simpsonii
• Sambucus repens
• Sambucus canadensis var. tarda
• Sambucus canadensis var. laciniata
• Sambucus canadensis f. engelmannii
• Sambucus orbiculata var. glabra
• Sambucus canadensis f. rosicalyx
• Sambucus canadensis f. chlorocarpa
• Sambucus canadensis f. aurea
• Sambucus canadensis f. atroflavula
• Sambucus nigra var. canadensis
• Sambucus cerulea var. arizonica
• Sambucus canadensis f. rubra
• Sambucus canadensis var. rubella
• Sambucus canadensis var. submollis
• Sambucus canadensis f. repens
• Sambucus rehderiana
• Sambucus orbiculata var. puberula
• Aralia sololensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Dipsacales, it is classified under the family Viburnaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sambucus, specifically the species Sambucus canadensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans multiple continents and climatic zones. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within the borders of Great Britain. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also documented growing in Germany. Its distribution extends to the Macaronesian region, specifically around the Canary Islands. Finally, the plant reaches West-Central Tropical Africa, found in both Burundi and the Gulf of Guinea Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sambucus canadensis is characterized by its ability to thrive in disturbed landscapes, frequently appearing within Área Antrópica (anthropic areas) where human activity has modified the natural terrain. This species demonstrates a highly adaptable growth pattern, capable of colonizing diverse environments ranging from forest edges and thickets to riparian zones. In terms of its altitudinal distribution, it can be found starting at an elevation of 0 m AMSL, indicating its capacity to inhabit low-lying coastal plains and lowland valleys. Its presence in human-altered habitats suggests a resilient ecological strategy, often acting as a pioneer or successional species in areas where soil has been disturbed or where landscape fragmentation has created new ecological niches.

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Sambucus canadensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground surface on woody stems, a trait that defines its structural life form. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, entering a period of dormancy before regenerating in the spring. This combination of perennial longevity, phanerophyte growth habit, and deciduousness dictates its seasonal rhythms and long-term survival strategy within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sambucus canadensis is characterized by its woody growth form, functioning primarily as a shrub or small tree. It is a self-supporting, non-climbing plant that grows in a terrestrial habitat, operating as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a robust stature, with height measurements typically ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 3.5 meters, though the mean plant height is recorded at approximately 4.07 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.5 m

Plant height mean:

4.06666666666667 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sambucus canadensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle in temperate environments. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on organic matter and soil nutrients for its developmental needs. Morphologically, the foliage is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, featuring elliptic leaf forms that can reach a maximum leaf length of 30 cm and a maximum leaf width of 18 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

18 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sambucus canadensis is primarily driven by biotic processes, utilizing an insect-mediated pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. The plant produces white flowers that characterize its flowering period, which typically begins in August and concludes in July (indicating a seasonal cycle spanning these months). Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes, with an average fruit length of 0.45 cm. Each fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, typically ranging from 1 to 10 per fruit. The seeds themselves are characterized by a mean mass of approximately 0.002238 g (with values ranging from a minimum of 0.00195 g to a maximum of 0.003627 g) and a consistent seed volume of 18 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, where animals play a key role in spreading the seeds. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction via seed production the essential method for its propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.003627 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00223833333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00195 g

Seed volume max:

18 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sambucus canadensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed.

Leaf

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Root

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Seed

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Sambucus canadensis has 64 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include RUTIN, quercetin, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Anthocyanins, Arachidic acid.

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food composition and analysis : an official publication of the United Nations University, International Network of Food Data Systems
3. Life sciences

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food composition and analysis : an official publication of the United Nations University, International Network of Food Data Systems
3. Life sciences

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food composition and analysis : an official publication of the United Nations University, International Network of Food Data Systems

Anthocyanins

1. Life sciences

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPESTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Chrysanthemin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Sambucus canadensis has 517 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Sambucus canadensis has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, carcinogenesis, hypertension, infectious diseases, infertility.

Asthma

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Carcinogenesis

1. Journal of medicinal food

Hypertension

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Infectious diseases

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Infertility

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Preparations

Sambucus canadensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts.

Extracts

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz