Chap. CVIII.
Sambucus Rosea.
The Elder or Gelder Rose.
Although there be diuers kindes of Elders, yet there is but one kinde of Elder Rose, whereof I meane to intreate in this Chapter, being of neare affinity in some things vnto the former Pipe trees, and which for the beauty of it deserueth to be remembred among the delights of a Garden.
Sambucus Rosea. The Gelder Rose.
The Gelder Rose (as it is called) groweth to a reasonable height, standing like a tree, with a trunke as bigge as any mans arme, couered with a darke grayish barke, somewhat rugged and very knotty: the younger branches are smooth and white, with a pithy substance in the middle, as the Elders haue, to shew that it is a kind thereof, whereon are set broad leaues, diuided into three parts or diuisions, somewhat like vnto a Vine leafe, but smaller, and more rugged or crumpled, iagged or cut also about the edges: at the toppes of euery one of the young branches, most vsually commeth forth a great tuft, or ball as it were, of many white flowers, set so close together, that there can be no distinction of any seuerall flower seene, nor doth it seeme like the double flower of any other plant, that hath many rowes of leaues set together, but is a cluster of white leaued flowers set together vpon the stalke that vpholdeth them, of a small sent, which fall away without bearing any fruit in our Country, that euer I could obserue or learne: The roote spreadeth neither farre nor deepe, but shooteth many small rootes and fibres, whereby it is fastened in the ground, and draweth nourishment to it, and sometimes yeeldeth suckers from it.
The Place.
It should seeme, that the naturall place of this Elder is wet and moist grounds, because it is so like vnto the Marsh Elder, which is the single kind hereof. It is onely noursed vp in Gardens in all our Country.
The Time.
It flowreth in May, much about the time of the double Peony flower, both which being set together, make a pleasant variety, to decke vp the windowes of a house.
The Names.
It is generally called Sambucus Rosea: In English, The Elder Rose, and more commonly after the Dutch name, the Gelder Rose. Dalechampius seemeth to make it Thraupalus of Theophrastus, or rather the single Marsh Elder; for I thinke this double kinde was not knowne in Theophrastus his time.
The Vertues.
It is not applyed to any Physicall vse that I know.