Reliably determine black elder
From the flowers, leaves and Berry The black elder can be used to conjure up delicious juices, liqueurs and jellies. Although it is one of the most common shrubs in the wild, some poisonous conspecifics sometimes cheat in between. You can determine the edible elder based on the following characteristics:
- Thrives as a shrub or small tree by the wayside, in forest clearings and in hedges
- 3 to 5 meters high with curved branches
- elliptical leaves with a serrated edge
- 2 pairs each opposite and 1 leaf at the tip (opposite, unpaired pinnate)
- Creamy white flowers from May to July
- purple-black berries in August and September, initially reddish in color
also read
- An overview of the most beautiful elderberry species
- This is how false and real elderberries differ
- Where do elderberries occur?
Differences to the poisonous dwarf elder determine
The berries of the poisonous Dwarf elder look very similar to the fruits of the black elderberry. You can differentiate between the two species in particular based on the following criteria:
- toxic attich gives off a very unpleasant odor
- its leaflets are elongated to lanceolate and up to 15 centimeters long
- the poisonous dark berries point upwards while the edible fruits of black elder droop
- Dwarf elder berries have a small dent
In addition, an attich with a maximum height of 150 centimeters remains significantly smaller than a fully grown black elder.
Keep your eyes open when collecting the flowers
Since the flowers of the black elder are often used in natural medicine, they are also often collected. Caution is advised here, because at first glance the white elderflower and the equally white flowers of the spotted hemlock look similar. In this case, an odor test provides reliable information about which plant you are actually dealing with. The spotted hemlock is betrayed by a foul smell.
Tips & Tricks
The berries of the red elder are also a delicious ingredient for jams, juices and liqueurs when cooked. The poisonous stone kernels must be removed, however, as their ingredients do not dissolve during cooking. In view of the clear color difference, the Grape elder no risk of confusion with poisonous elderberry species.