General: Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea) is an upright shrub to several feet tall. Leaves opposite, toothed, compound (leaflets 3 to 9, leaflets 3 to 20 cm in length). Flowers, white, small, five-petalled, in cymose inflorescences. Fruit is a drupe (a cherry-like fruit). The stems are hollow.

Blue Elderberry is an uncommon component of vegetation communities in wet mountainous area in the Transition (Yellow Pine Forest) and Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) life zones. This plant used to be rare on Mt. Charleston, but it seems more common now.

Around Las Vegas, look for Blue Elderberry in wet canyons up on Mt. Charleston (e.g., Cathedral Rock Trail, Mack's Canyon, Cold Creek).

Family: Moschatel (Adoxaceae); formerly Caprifoliaceae. Also called Mexican elderberry, elder.

Caution: all parts of this plant (except the flesh of ripe berries) are poisonous to humans.