Botanical identity
A shrub whose flowers and cooked ripe berries are used in syrups, cordials and foods.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderDipsacales
FamilyViburnaceae
GenusSambucus
Scientific name with authorshipSambucus nigra L.
Curated parts indexedFlowers and ripe berries
Indexed scientific synonyms
Sambucus alba Raf.Sambucus arborescens Gilib.Sambucus aurea (Sweet) CarrièreSambucus columnaris LebasSambucus dissecta K.KochSambucus elegans K.KochSambucus floribunda K.KochSambucus florida Salisb.Sambucus graveolens Willd.Sambucus hirta TauschSambucus leucocarpa K.KochSambucus linearis K.KochSambucus lucida TauschSambucus medullosa Gilib.Sambucus mexicana C.PreslSambucus monstrosa LoudonSambucus nigra f. alba (Weston) RehderSambucus nigra f. albomarmorata GeerinckSambucus nigra f. albovariegata (Weston) Schwer.Sambucus nigra f. aurea (Sweet) Schwer.Sambucus nigra f. chlorocarpa (Hayne) GeerinckSambucus nigra f. dissecta K.KochSambucus nigra f. heterophylla (Pépin) Schwer.Sambucus nigra f. leucocarpa Vollm.Sambucus nigra f. linearis (G.Kirchn.) C.K.Schneid.Sambucus nigra f. luteomarmorata GeerinckSambucus nigra f. luteovariegata (Weston) Schwer.Sambucus nigra f. pendula DippelSambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla E.C.NelsonSambucus nigra f. pyramidalis (H.Jaeger) DippelSambucus nigra f. pyramidata (Lebas) Schwer.Sambucus nigra f. rotundifolia (DC.) DippelSambucus nigra f. virescens (Desf.) Vollm.Sambucus nigra f. viridis (Weston) Schwer.Sambucus nigra subsp. fastigiata V.GibbsSambucus nigra subsp. filifolia KacheSambucus nigra subsp. pendula-nova CarrièreSambucus nigra subsp. vulgaris Ehrh.Sambucus nigra var. alba WestonSambucus nigra var. albida SweetSambucus nigra var. albovariegata Nordh.Sambucus nigra var. albovariegata WestonSambucus nigra var. aurea SweetSambucus nigra var. aureovariegata RehderSambucus nigra var. cannabinifolia PépinSambucus nigra var. chlorocarpa HayneSambucus nigra var. decussata GillotSambucus nigra var. dimorphophylla RouySambucus nigra var. heterophylla PépinSambucus nigra var. leucocarpa HayneSambucus nigra var. leucocarpa Rchb.Sambucus nigra var. linearis G.Kirchn.Sambucus nigra var. luteovariegata WestonSambucus nigra var. mileri Podp.Sambucus nigra var. nigraSambucus nigra var. pendula (Dippel) C.K.Schneid.Sambucus nigra var. pulla AitonSambucus nigra var. pyramidalis H.JaegerSambucus nigra var. pyramidata (Lebas) C.K.Schneid.Sambucus nigra var. rotundifolia DC.Sambucus nigra var. rotundifolia F.Towns.Sambucus nigra var. variegata Asch.Sambucus nigra var. variegata HayneSambucus nigra var. virens M.LoehrSambucus nigra var. virescens (Desf.) SweetSambucus nigra var. virescens (Desf.) W.D.J.KochSambucus nigra var. virescens Cariot & St.-Lag., 1889Sambucus nigra var. viridis WestonSambucus nigra var. vulgaris HayneSambucus nigra var. vulgaris MerremSambucus pulverulenta K.KochSambucus pyramidata LebasSambucus rotundifolia Lodd.Sambucus rotundifolia Lodd. ex SweetSambucus virescens Desf.Sambucus vulgaris Neck.
Documented use categories
Medicine
Human food
Environmental use
Material
Poison reported
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Traditional and practical context
Traditional context is preparation-specific and is presented as historical or practical context rather than proof of effectiveness.
Evidence boundary
Evidence must be assessed by species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and the exact health question. Culinary use cannot be generalized to concentrated extracts.
Safety boundary
Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier30122169-2
Use codesEU HF MA ME PO
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Kew Economic Botany CollectionUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Useful Plants of New GuineaPlant Resources for Tropical AfricaMalaria and Fever in Latin America
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.