Ear |
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| Common Name | Ear |
| Scientific Name | Sambucus nigra |
| Common names for this herb include Blackberried European Elder, Boor Tree, Ellanwood, European Elder, Black Elder, Bountry Ellhorn, and German Elder. In the past, this shrub or tree was regarded as magical and was believed to dispel demons. Undertakers once carried pieces of elder to protect them against the numerous spirits they might encounter in the course of their work. In Europe, men doffed their hats in the tree's presence and offered prayers to the elder "mother" before gathering her berries. Christians believed elder to be the wood of the Cross. Its honey-scented flowers were considered sacred to the Scandinavian goddess of love, Hulda. In the early herbals, hot elder tea was listed as a mild stimulant, dispelling colds, catarrh, and flatulence, and promoting perspiration. When served cold, it was considered a diuretic. The North American Elder, widespread in the United States, is similar in appearance and properties. | |
| Plant | Perennial. A shrub or small tree, it is found wild in Europe in moist, shady places. The bark is light brown near the bottom of the stems, gray-white and warty higher up. The leaves are composed of several pairs of oval, opposite dark green, and finely serrated leaflets. White to yellow white flower clusters appear in June and July, developing into green berries that subsequently turn red-brown, then shiny black. |
| Height | 10 to 30 feet. |
| Soil | Fertile, damp. |
| Exposure | Sun or partial shade. |
| Propagation | By cuttings, root division, or seeds planted during the third lunar phase. |
| Care | Rampant and fast growing, the elder can become wild looking if not pruned every dormant season to keep it dense and shrubby. New growths sprout readily from the stumps. |
| Part used for Tea | Flowerheads. |
| Taste | Sweet, honey flavoured. Often combined with Thea sinensis, peppermint, yarrow, or other herbs. |
| How to Brew | By INFUSION: Add 2 tablespoons of flowers to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep to taste. |
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