Algerian Wild Plants: Discovering Sambucus nigra -Black Elderberry

 

Taxonomy:       

Kingdom:	Plantae
Phylum:	Tracheophytes
Class:	Angiosperms
Class:	Eudicots
Order:	Dipsacales
Family:	Adoxaceae
Genus:	Sambucus
Species:	S. Nigra

             

Sambucus Nigra is a medicinal plant found in Algeria and it is a perennial plant of the Adoxaceae family, found in Europe and North Africa, and it is a short-lived shrub up to 3-4 meters high with opposite leaves, of a complex shape, containing 5-7 oval leaves. The flowers are white and very fragrant. The fruits are small poisonous black berries filled with dark red juice.

Synonyms 

Sambucus nigra subsp. cerulea

Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana

Sambucus nigra  subsp. canadensis

 

Introduction

Sambucus nigra, commonly known as Black Elderberry, is a valuable medicinal and ecological plant found in Algeria. Known for its antioxidant-rich berries and traditional healing properties, this plant thrives in various regions of North Africa.

 

How to Identify Sambucus nigra?

Leaves: Pinnate, 5-7 leaflets, serrated edges

Flowers: Small, creamy-white, fragrant, in umbrella-shaped clusters

Berries: Dark purple to black, juicy, arranged in drooping clusters

Bark: Gray-brown, fissured with age

 

Type Of Plant	Life Cycle	Height	Flowering Time	Altitude
Shrub	Perennial	2  to 4 m	Juin-July	0-800 m

 

Mediterranean	Edible	Color	Abundance	Toxicity
Yes	No	White-Cream		Medium toxic

 

Other Common Name:

Arabic	Berber/Targui	English	French	Other Name
Baylasen aswed El-khokhi	Sembouqa	Elderberry blackElder	Sureau Noir, Sampéchier	European elder,Tapiro Sambuco nero

Algerian Distribution

• Found in Northern Algeria, particularly in:
• Mediterranean coastal areas
• Forested zones of the Atlas Mountains
• Near agricultural lands and water bodies

Where to Find It in Algeria: Exact Locations

Sambucus nigra grows in:

• Northern Algeria (humid and subhumid regions)
• Tell Atlas Mountains (forest edges, riverbanks)
• Kabylie Region (Annaba, Collo,skikda)
• Near water sources (wadis, streams)

 Related species:

§  Sambucus racemosa 

§  Sambucus ebulus

§  Sambucus Palmensis

§  Sambucus Canadensis