It was thought that the dryad would take revenge and punish the offender with bad luck – or, toothache (Romania). There has long been a widespread taboo against cutting down Elder trees or burning any of their wood. Elders often grow close to human habitations and since they never get struck by lightning, they were thought to protect the homestead against this danger as well. If treated well and respectfully the dryad appeared as a most benevolent spirit that blesses and protects those who care for it. They were believed to be inhabited by a ‘tree dryad’, a kind of tree spirit that represents the soul of the tree, or even an aspect of the Goddess herself. Elders were often thought a little spooky. In the old days, Elder was considered sacred to this Goddess. Old names, like Holler, Hylder, Hyllantree, and the German word ‘Holunder’ all refer to an ancient vegetation Goddess known in Denmark as ‘Hylde Moer’. This name derives from the use of hollowed Elder branches as blow furnaces. The name ‘Elder’ probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Aeld’, for ‘fire’, which starts to make sense when we look at another old name for Elder, ‘Ellhorn’.

Pipe tree, Ellhorn, Black Elder, Bore Tree, Bour Tree, Eller, Holler, Hylder, Hylantree, Holunder (German), Sureau (French) It is not fussy about soil type or pH level and will grow wherever it gets enough light. Elder is often grown as a hedgerow bush, since it takes very fast, bends into shape easily and grows quite profusely, hence its reputation as an ‘instant hedge’. By the end of the summer they develop into drooping bunches of small purple-black berries that are extremely popular with the birds.Īs a nitrogen loving plant Elder commonly grows near farms and homesteads and thrives near organic waste disposal sites. They exude a heavy, sweet, slightly intoxicating scent, especially at dusk. The flowers appear in May, forming big umbel-shaped bunches of tiny 5-petaled, cream-colored star-shaped flowers. The pinnate leaves have opposite, ovate leaflets with serrated margins and one larger terminal leaflet. Generations of children have taken advantage of this property, making pipes and pop-guns from hollowed-out twigs. The branches are bendy and contain a core of very light, almost cork-like pith, which can easily be removed.

The light grey bark is fissured and covered with many lenticels (breathing pores). Its multiple stems branch frequently, giving it a somewhat sprawling appearance. This much loved, bushy tree is a common sight throughout Britain (especially in southern England) as well as in most parts of central and southern Europe. The Elder tree – medicine cabinet of the country people

Magic flowers in mythology