Elder Wisdom and Elderberry Wine

Folklore/Common Names: Alhuren, Battree, Black Elder, Bountry, Common Elder, Pipe Tree, Bore Tree, Bour Tree, Hylder, Hylantree, Eldrum, Ellhorn, Lady Ellhorn, Ellanwood, European Alder Rob Elder, Sweet Elder

Parts Used Flowers, berries; bark and leaves in some instances

CAUTION At one time the roots were also used, but are considered toxic today, as are the leaves and bark to a degree. Be advised that modern Herbalism contends the leaves and bark should NOT be used internally. The roots and leaves of some varieties contain cyanogenic glucosides, substances that release cyanide, and an unidentified cathartic. Ripe, cooked berries are harmless, however, and raw berries and flowers are generally considered to have no adverse effects.

Historical Reference

Grieve tells us in A Modern Herbal that "The word 'Elder' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Æld meaning 'fire', the hollow stems of the young branches having been used for blowing up a fire: the soft pith pushes out easily and the tubes thus formed were used as pipes - hence it was often called Pipe-Tree, or Bore-tree and Bour-tree, the latter name remaining in Scotland and being traceable to the Anglo-Saxon form, Burtre."

From as early as Pliny, Elder has maintained a reputation as an excellent wood for musical instruments, and many Pan pipes are still made of the hollowed stems. In addition to being ideal for instruments, Elder was useful in making skewers, shoemakers' pegs, fishing poles, needles for weaving nets, combs, mathematical instruments and toys - in fact, Pliny's writings testify that the making of pop-guns and whistles is literally centuries old!

Elder Flowers were often included in the making of medieval delicacies, the blossoms being beaten into the batter of cakes and muffins for a more delicate texture.

Some records indicate the Romans used Elderberry juice as a hair-dye. (Please, no jokes about early Grecian Formulas!)

An old gypsy custom forbids use of Elder among the firewood or kindling, as Elder was intimately connected with magic. In its branches was believed to live Hylde-Moer, the Elder-tree Mother, a dryad who protected the tree. If the tree was cut without first asking, or if furniture was made from the wood, Hylde-Moer was believed to follow her property and haunt the owners. The fact that the tree 'bled' red sap when cut only served to confirm the belief of a tree spirit inside the living tree.

Shakespeare makes mention of Elder in several of the plays, referring to it as a symbol of grief in Cymbeline as well as referencing, as M. Grieve put it, "the common medieval belief that 'Judas was hanged on an Elder'".

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