Elderwood, black elder (Sambucus nigra) is a shrub or tree native to Europe, known to most for its lush white-yellow flowers that bloom in June and have a slightly pungent scent. The tree has many regional names, but the term elder is commonly used everywhere. Rich legends surround this tree, which has been important to humans since ancient times, and its significance was not based solely on its prized fruits and flowers. The dark purple to almost black fruits of the elderberry have always been used by humans, but its easily workable wood, a hard and dense material with a characteristic pith tube in its center, has also found many applications, as has its bark in natural medicine.
