danewort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• danewort
• dwarf elder
• dwarf elderberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sambucus ebulus var. incarnata
• Sambucus paucijuga
• Sambucus ebulus var. viridis
• Sambucus ebulus f. xerophila
• Sambucus ebulus var. citrina
• Sambucus ebulus subsp. laciniata
• Sambucus deborensis
• Viburnum ebulus
• Ebulum humile
• Sambucus ebulus var. humilis
• Sambucus ebulus var. deborensis
• Sambucus ebulus var. laciniata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Dipsacales and the family Viburnaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Sambucus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing throughout Denmark and Sweden. Its presence is also well-documented across the British Isles, specifically within Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species extends into Middle Europe. Notably, this geographical reach includes the mountainous landscapes of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sambucus ebulus is characterized by its versatile ability to colonize a variety of landscapes, ranging from managed agricultural lands to wild, rugged terrains. It thrives in diverse environments including cropfields, forests, and forest edges, where it often serves as a transitional species between open areas and dense woodland. This plant is also frequently found in mountainous regions and human-influenced settings such as parks, demonstrating a high degree of adaptability to different soil conditions and light availability. By occupying these varied niches, from the disturbed soils of agricultural areas to the stabilized margins of forested ecosystems, Sambucus ebulus plays a significant role in the structural complexity of its habitats.

Habitat :

cropfields,forest,forestedges,mountains,parks

Life history

The life history of Sambucus ebulus is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennial buds at or just below the soil surface during unfavorable periods, a strategy that facilitates its survival in diverse habitats. This life form is further supported by its deciduous nature, as the plant sheds its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, entering a period of dormancy before regenerating in the spring.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sambucus ebulus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic behavior and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one. In terms of stature, it typically maintains a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.85 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.85 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sambucus ebulus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in typical environments. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on traditional root-based nutrient uptake rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of 188.0125 cm², which, when integrated with its biomass, results in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 199.95 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

188.0125 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

199.95 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sambucus ebulus is characterized by a specialized biotic pollination process and a specific seasonal flowering cycle. The plant enters its flowering phase in June and continues until August, relying on biotic pollination syndromes—specifically involving insects and bees—to facilitate fertilization. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating these external pollinators for successful reproduction. The resulting fruit is a fleshy berry that is indehiscent in nature, with an average length of 0.54 cm and an average width of 0.62 cm. Within these berries, the seeds exhibit a consistent volume of 2.9 mm³ and a mean mass of approximately 0.0269 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0079 g to a maximum of 0.025 g). Dispersal is categorized as autochorous, and the plant does not engage in asexual reproduction, relying entirely on its sexual reproductive cycle to propagate.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.54 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.62 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.025 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0269295556666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0079 g

Seed volume max:

2.9 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sambucus ebulus has 5 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, fruit, rhizome, root.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
2. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
3. Fitoterapia

Leaf

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
2. Fitoterapia

Fruit

1. Acta parasitologica

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Sambucus ebulus has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Steroids, Tannins.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Steroids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Sambucus ebulus has 2 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antinociceptive.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Sambucus ebulus has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, Nausea, Triple-negative breast cancer, blood poisoning, breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations