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Sambucus spp. |
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Family: Caprifoliaceae |
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Elder |
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The genus Sambucus is composed of about 30
species, native to North America, Asia, Europe, northern Africa, the West
Indies and the Andean region of South America. They are naturalized in areas
The word sambucus is the classical Latin name, believed to be from the Greek name
of a stringed musical instrument made of the wood.
Sambucus
callicarpa-California
Tree Elder, Coast Red Elder, Pacific Red Elder Redberry Elder, Red
Elderberry
Sambucus
canadensis-American
Elder
Blackberry Elder, Common Elder, Common Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
var. canadensis-American Elder
(typical)
Sambucus
canadensis var.
laciniata-Florida
Elder,
Florida Elderberry, Gulf Elder, Southern Elder
Sambucus
cerulea-Blueberry
Elder, Blue Elder,
Blue Elderberry, New Mexico Elder
Sambucus
mexicana-Arizona
Elder, Desert Elderberry, Mexican Elder, Mountain Elder, New Mexico Elder,
Sauco, Tapiro
Sambucus
velutina-Velvet
Elder,
Velvetleaf Elder
??????
Distribution
North America
The Tree
Elder trees are
woody plants (trees to shrubs) with large, opposite leaves which may be
evergreen or deciduous and are pinnately compound. They produce clusters of
small white to pink flowers in flat topped clusters (like queen Anne's lace),
which later develop into berry like fruits. Elders can attain a height of 50
feet, with diameters of 1 foot. The bark is thick, with irregular ridges or
scales and is dark brown to reddish brown.
The following
is for Blue Elder:
The Wood
General
The sapwood of
Elder is white, while the heartwood is a yellowish brown. It has a low luster
and no odor or taste. It is light weight, brittle and of medium texture.
Mechanical
Properties (2-inch standard)
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Compression |
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Specific gravity |
MOE x106 lbf/in2 |
MOR lbf/in2 |
Parallel lbf/in2 |
Perpendicular lbf/in2 |
WMLa in-lbf/in3 |
Hardness lbf |
Shear lbf/in2 |
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Green |
0.46 |
0.90 |
6,600 |
3,040 |
520 |
8.8 |
720 |
1,090 |
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Dry |
0.52 |
1.03 |
9,200 |
5,090 |
760 |
9.9 |
840 |
— |
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aWML = Work to maximum load.
Reference (59). |
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Drying and
Shrinkage
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Type of shrinkage |
Percentage of
shrinkage |
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0% MC |
6% MC |
20% MC |
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Tangential |
9.0 |
— |
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Radial |
4.4 |
— |
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Volumetric |
15.6 |
— |
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References: (59) |
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Kiln Drying
Schedules: No information available at this time.
Working
Properties: Elder is easy to work and finishes smoothly.
Durability:
Elder is not durable.
Preservation:
No information available at this time.
Uses: Twigs
with pith removed were used for "spiles", the pipes used for getting
maple sap to the bucket. Turnery.
Toxicity: The
whole plant is poisonous (54)
Additional
Reading and References Cited (in parentheses)
6. Boone, R.S.,
C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois & E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry kiln schedules for
?commercial woods - temperate and tropical. USDA Forest Service, FPL ?General
Technical Report FPL-GTR-57.
29. Elias, T.S.
1980. The complete trees of North America, field guide and natural history.
?Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 948 pp.
54. Lampe, Dr.
Kenneth F.; McCann, Mary Ann. 1985. AMA Handbook of Poisonous and ?Injurious
Plants. American Medical Assoc., Chicago, IL.
55. Little, Jr.,
E.L.1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). USDA
?Forest Service, Ag. Handbook No. 541, USGPO, Washington, DC.
59. Markwardt,
L.J. and T.R.C. Wilson. 1935. Strength and related properties of woods ?grown
in the United States. USDA Forest Service, Tech. Bull. No. 479. USGPO,
?Washington, DC.
68. Panshin,
A.J. and C. de Zeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Ed., ?McGraw-Hill
Book Co., New York, 722 pp.
74. Record, S.J.
and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the new world. Yale University Press, ?New
Haven, 640 pp.
86. Simpson,
W.T. 1991. Dry kiln operator's manual. USDA Forest Service, FPL Ag. ?Handbook
188.
90. Summitt, R.
and A. Sliker. 1980. CRC handbook of materials science. Volume 4, ?wood. ?CRC
Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL. 459 pp.