Sambucus mexicana (Syn: Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea)
Blue Elderberry

Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)

Photo taken in Icicle Canyon, growing on large rock, partially shaded

Flowers:

inflorescence more or less flat-topped, not pyramidal; white to cream petals

Fruit:

dark blue-black and strongly white glaucous, appearing blue

Leaves:

pinnately compound; leaflets serrate, 3 to 20 cm long

Plant:

shrubs or small trees lacking a main trunk, 2 to 8 meters tall; pithy stems. Fruits eaten fresh, dried, frozen, or canned by the Okanagan-Colville, Thompson, and Sanpoil and Nespelm. Stems were used to make flutes and whistles throughout the Western North America.

Habitat:

streambanks to open places in the forest

Distribution of species:

British Columbia to California, east to Utah and New Mexico

Distribution of genus:

20 species: temperate and subtropical regions