Sambucus cerulea
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Created: Monday, October 11, 2021 - 15:30Creator: Terry HowesDescription: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tlhowes/37228868105Standard and Creative Commons Licensing:  Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) |
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Protocol: PublicCreated: Monday, October 11, 2021 - 15:30Creator: Melanie DiedrichHeadline (Caption): Sambucus cerula reference seedDescription: Seeds are approximately 2.5 mm in length, with a flat ovoid, or tear-drop shape and a pointed, apiculate end. Seeds have a well-defined bullate and rugose texture, and are much bumpier than Sambucus racemosa.Standard and Creative Commons Licensing: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) |
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Blue elderberry is a tall, 2-4 m shrub with large leaves, opposite or pinnately compound leaves. The white flowers grow in large flat-topped clusters, unlike red elderberry flowers which grow in a pyramidal group.
Blue elderberries were particularly favored among groups living in what are today's interior Canadian provinces. Berries could be eaten fresh or dried. Some groups would leave the berries on the shrubs until late fall before harvesting. Berries might be mixed with black tree lichen for flavoring. Today people use the berries to make james, jellies, and syrup.
Blue elderberry grows in wet but well-drained valley bottoms, streambanks, and gullys throughout the interior Northwest and is sporadic on coastal islands.
