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Glite Dictionary
Sambucus canadensis

Sambucus canadensis

9.3
A North American bush that makes dark purple berries used to make wine and jam
  • noun
  • /sæmˈbjuːkəs kænəˈdɛnsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sambucus canadensis
  • Many traditional recipes for elderberry wine call specifically for Sambucus canadensis fruit.

Examples

  • Botanists studied the habitat range of Sambucus canadensis throughout eastern North America.

  • The Sambucus canadensis plant thrives in wetland areas.

  • The Sambucus canadensis in our backyard produces clusters of edible berries each summer.

  • Many people enjoy making wine from Sambucus canadensis berries.

  • The common elder, Sambucus canadensis, bears tart, edible, purplish-black berries that are often used in making wild jams and jellies.

  • People often gather Sambucus canadensis berries in the late summer to make delicious elderberry wine.

  • The flowers of Sambucus canadensis can be harvested to make a soothing herbal tea.

Synonyms

sweet elder
vsSambucus canadensis
  • US
9.6

A North American bush that people use to make jam and wine from its purple-black berries

is the scientific species name rather than a common name
American elder
vsSambucus canadensis
  • Specialized
6.0

A shrub with clusters of dark purple berries used to make wine and jam

is the scientific species name rather than a common name
black elderberry
vsSambucus canadensis
  • US
6.8

A shrub with clusters of dark purple berries used to make jam, syrup or wine

is the scientific species name rather than a common name

Surface Forms

Sambucus canadensis singular
Sambucus canadensis plural

Morphology

Sambucus + canadensis

This is a Latin binomial formed compositionally from the genus name 'Sambucus' and the specific epithet 'canadensis' meaning 'from Canada', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes the Sambucus species originating from Canada/North America. The pattern (genus + origin-based epithet) is a regular taxonomic convention, making the meaning predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Sambucus canadensis is the scientific name for the North American elderberry. The first part, Sambucus, comes from an old word for the elder tree, and the second part, canadensis, simply means 'from Canada' or 'from North America', so the name literally points to the elder found in that region.