by Carl Strang
American elder, or elderberry, is a shrub with a fairly broad ecological range, though it usually wants its feet somewhat wet.
The large flower clusters produce many small black berries.
In winter it often takes the form of a cluster of stems.
The overall profile often is vase-like, vaguely reminiscent of ocotillo.
The stems have unimpressive tips.
![The thick twigs are covered in lenticels. The paired buds will produce compound leaves. ]](https://natureinquiries.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/elderberry-winter-2a.jpg)
The thick twigs are covered in lenticels. The paired buds will produce compound leaves. ]
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Gary & Therese said,
April 4, 2014 at 9:49 pm
The ripe berries can also be used to make a flu/cold fighting herbal medicine. A few searches should yield many recipes. We tried making our own batch and have been taking it this past winter and have not had a single case of a cold or flu.