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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY | |||||||||
| The honeysuckle family is found mainly
in temperate and subtropical areas of the Northern Hemisphere. In Saskatchewan
there are several examples, all of which are woody vines or shrubs. The
family can be identified by its opposite leaves and perfect, irregular flowers
that appear in pairs or clusters. Sometimes the upper leaves may be fused
together around the stem. These trees mainly produce berries as fruit types. The honeysuckle family is of little economic importance. Some species are used in gardens as ornamentals. Japanese honeysuckle, an introduced species, is considered a weed in some places. |
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| RED ELDERBERRY | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Red elderberry is a shrub that grows as tall as 3 m. The stems are brownish to reddish with raised bumps. The leaves are opposite and stalked. The leaves are pinnately compound and usually have five leaflets, though there may be as many as nine. The leaflets are opposite and stalked. The stalks are hairy and grooved above. The leaflets are toothed, except for at the tip. The flowers are in dense clusters with a well defined central axis at the ends of branches. The flowers are small and are white to yellowish. The fruits are berry-like and are reddish or orange. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Red elderberry grows in semi-open deciduous or mixed woods. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in east-central Saskatchewan from Wood Mountain to Pasquia Hills in the Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, and Mid-Boreal Lowland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Red elderberry is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is uncommon. It is regionally restricted to two general regions of the province. Local population sizes vary. Possible threats, such as fragile habitat and occurrences in areas of planned developments, have been identified. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY RED ELDERBERRY | |||||||||
| * Is the plant a woody shrub? * Are all of the leaves opposite and compound? * Are the fruits reddish or orange berries? * Did you find it in east-central Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found red elderberry! | |||||||||
