Elder, a genus of plants belonging to the pentandria clas; and in the natural method ranking under the 43rd order, Duma. See Botany Index.

All the sorts of elder are of the deciduous tribe, very hardy, and grow freely anywhere; are generally free shooters, but particularly the common elder and varieties, which make remarkably strong, jointed shoots, of several feet in length, in one season; and they flower mostly in summer, except the racemose elder, which generally begins flowering in April; and the branches being large, spreading, and very abundant, are exceedingly conspicuous; but they emit a disagreeable odour. The flowers are succeeded in most of the sorts by large bunches of ripe berries in autumn, which, although very unpalatable to eat, are in high estimation for making that well known cordial liquor called elder wine, particularly the common black-berried elder. In gardening, the elder is both useful and ornamental, especially in extensive grounds.