Red-berried Elder

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European red elder
• European red elderberry
• Pacific coast red elder
• coastal red elderberry
• red elderberry
• red-berried elder
• scarlet elderberry
• red-berry elder
• American red elderberry
• Red Elder

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 is organized under the order Dipsacales and the family Viburnaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Sambucus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as red elderberry, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. The species also extends its range to include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, its presence is documented throughout the rugged landscapes of Norway. Together, these locations define its primary geographical footprint within the northern territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sambucus racemosa is characterized by its preference for moist, shaded environments typically found within forest ecosystems and along forest edges. It thrives in these transitional zones where it can access filtered sunlight and stable moisture levels provided by the surrounding canopy and edge vegetation. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, occupying an elevational range that extends up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. Such a range allows it to inhabit diverse montane and subalpine habitats, where it plays a functional role in the structural complexity of forest understories and riparian corridors.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges

Genetics

The genetics of Sambucus racemosa are characterized by a specific chromosomal constitution that defines its reproductive and evolutionary framework. The species exhibits a fundamental haploid number, represented by the ploidy level of n, which serves as the baseline for its genetic inheritance and meiotic processes. This genomic structure provides the blueprint for the complex biochemical pathways responsible for the synthesis of secondary metabolites, such as anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, which are central to its medicinal properties. The stability of this chromosomal state is essential for maintaining species integrity during sexual reproduction and governs the segregation of alleles that influence phenotypic variation within different populations.

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Sambucus racemosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems above the ground, specifically categorized under the phanerophyte life form. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to colder temperatures or changing environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sambucus racemosa is characterized by its woody growth form, functioning primarily as a shrub or a tree. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant height variability; while individual specimens may reach a minimum height of 1 m, they typically grow as large shrubs or small trees, with a maximum height recorded at 6 m and an average plant height of approximately 7.855 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

7.855 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sambucus racemosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant is strictly non-carnivorous, relying entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition through its root system and foliage. Its foliar morphology is defined by a mean leaf size of approximately 127.52917 cm², with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 9.5 cm. The leaves exhibit a consistent width, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 3.8 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 287.51 cm²/g, reflecting the structural relationship between its leaf area and dry mass, which is indicative of its resource allocation strategies and leaf density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

9.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

127.52917 cm²

Leaf width mean:

3.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

287.51 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sambucus racemosa is characterized by a sexual cycle that begins with a flowering period starting in April and concluding in July. The pollination process is primarily biotic, relying on an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes, which have an average length of 0.565 cm and an average width of 0.4833 cm. These fruits facilitate seed dispersal through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where animals consume the fruit and disperse the seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00513 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.001232 g to a maximum of 0.006502 g) and a consistent mean length of 2 mm. The seed volume is recorded at a mean of 3 mm³, which serves as both the minimum and maximum value in this dataset. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction through these insect-mediated processes essential for its life cycle.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.565 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.483333333333333 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.006502 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00513456818181818 g

Seed mass min:

0.001232 g

Seed volume max:

3 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Sambucus racemosa has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Tannins, betulinic acid.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Tannins

1. Die Pharmazie

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Sambucus racemosa has 23 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Sambucus racemosa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Sambucus racemosa has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, branch tip extract.

Bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Branch tip extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology