Danewort
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| iEuropean Dwarf Elder | ||||||||||||||
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 Danewort inflorescence
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| Sambucus ebulus L. |
Danewort (Sambucus ebulus), also known as Dwarf Elder or European Dwarf Elder and Walewort is a herbaceous species of elder, native to southern and central Europe and southwest Asia. It grows to 1-2 m tall, with erect, usually unbranched stems growing in large groups from an extensive perennial underground rhizome. The leaves are opposite, pinnate, 15-30 cm long, with 5-9 leaflets with a foetid smell. The stems terminate in a corymb 10-15 cm diameter with numerous white (occasionally pink) flowers. The fruit is a small glossy black berry 5-6 mm diameter.
The name Danewort comes from the false belief that it only grows on the site of battles that involve the Danes.
