Flower ID: IMG_0779.JPG-06-18-2017 Flower name (scientific): Sambucus racemosa Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) sam-BYOO-kus ray-see-MO-suh Flower name (common): Red Elderberry Family name (common): Moschatel Family name (scientific): Adoxaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Latin name for the Elder tree, from sambūca, a triangular stringed-instrument, a kind of harp. Specific epithet: From the Latin for racemose inflorescence, an indeterminate inflorescence with pedicillate flowers. Common name origin: From the the bright red color of the berries. Another compound name is Red-berried Elder, also named for the color of the berries. Elderberry is a compounding of elder + berry. Elder has a complex etymology, ranging well over a thousand years, with multiple spelling variations. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (0.3 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: red Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 48 to 168 inches (1.2 to 4.3 m) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is compound Size: Leaves up to about 35 cm long. Leaflets up to 10 to 12 cm long and up to 5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, odd-pinnate, leaflet, oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, forests, swamps, semi-shade or shade, moist to mesic. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The red berries of Sambucus racemosa help distinguish this species from the related Sambucus canadensis (Common Elderberry), which has purplish-black berries. Ethnobotany: The Ojibwe used the bark, depending on preparation, as an emetic or as a purgative (Smith, p. 360, 1932). The Menominee used the bark in a similar fashion (Smith, pp. 27-28, 1923). Like the Ojibwe, the Potawatomi used the bark to prepare an emetic or a purgative, with some superstition connected with its use (Smith, pp. 41-42, 1933). Latitude: 44.796010 Longitude: -91.501310 Altitude: 256.10 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Sambucus racemosa subsp. racemosa (The other infraspecifics are Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa (A. Gray) McMinn, Sambucus racemosa var. microbotrys (Rydberg) Kearney & Peebles, Sambucus racemosa subsp. pubens (André Michaux) Hultén. All three of these infraspecifics occur in the US.)