Elder

The Elder, small and shrubby, is scattered throughout the country, from the rich soils of the South-east to out-of-the-way places in North and West.

In most settings it is not numerous, and is associated with human habitation, indicating a spread largely by planting in the last one or two thousand years. It takes easily to many environments, most especially disturbed ground, and germinates and roots and suckers prolifically.

Pale grey branches – with a hint of orange in their rough bark – break away easily, touching the ground and creating another Elder tree.

Birds spread seed after eating the black fruits, ‘nigra’ as in the Latin meaning ‘black’.

In Gaelic the fruits are ‘dearc rùis’. From its main stem or stems tall straight shoots reach upward, shiny pale grey with a speckle of dots like Braille. On the outer twigs the leaves appear very early in the year, the leaf-tip and following two or three pairs, sometimes stunted or nipped by the frosts of late Winter. The bright green pointed leaves renew their opening, followed by the flower buds in clusters, opening to round creamy white clusters in high Summer. The blossom – in Gaelic ‘blàar’ - adds sweet nectar scent to the air, attracting hoverflies and other insects to move the pollen about among the clusters and nearby trees. Then the clusters of little berries set, turning from dark green to shiny blue/black by September. A pleasant juice or wine can be made from the berries, and scented champagne from the flowers. The leaves – especially in high Summer – have a distinctive, unpleasant smell, which is how the tree protects itself from harmful animals and insects, and Elder leaves have been used by people working outdoors to ward off flies and midges. The Travelling People made and traded spoons and thatching pegs – in Gaelic ‘dromanach’ - of the hard but easily-carved heartwood, and the straight stems – their inner soft pithy wood removed – have been used for bellows and pipes and flutes.