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Elder

(Science: botany) a genus of shrubs (sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

The common North American species is sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (s. Nigra) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is s. Pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. Box elder. See 1st box. Dwarf elder. See danewort. Elder tree.

(Science: botany) same as elder. Marsh elder, the cranberry tree viburnum Opulus).

Origin: oe. Ellern, eller, as. Ellen, cf. LG. Elloorn; perh. Akin to OHG. Holantar, holuntar, g. Holunder; or perh. To E. Alder, n.