Sambucus pubens Michx.
Large shrub to c. 2 m high. Stems with brown pith, hairy when young. Leaflets 3-5. Petiole 4-6 cm long, hairy when young. Petiolules of terminal leaflets to 2 cm long, those of lateral ones very short or 0. Lamina of terminal leaflet 6-9 × 2.5-5 cm, ovate or broad-ovate, hairy beneath at first, later with scattered hairs on veins only, hairy above on midrib, strongly serrate, ciliate; apex acuminate. Lamina of lateral leaflets smaller than, or subequal to, terminal one. Infl. a panicle to 7 cm across, broadly pyramidal; lower branches slightly recurved; peduncles and pedicels puberulous, probably coloured at fruiting. Calyx minute. Corolla cream or greenish white; lobes 2-2.5 mm long, oblong-elliptic. Stamens < corolla. Frs c. 5 mm diam., red, probably globose. Pyrenes c. 2 mm long, ± ellipsoid, rugose.
S.: known from 2 sites only, Claremont Bush, Pareora, S. Canterbury, and Romahapa, near the mouth of the Clutha R., Southland.
E. North America 1922
Forest margin.
FL Sep-Oct.
CHR 3385, Romahapa, Southland, Thomson, is the basis for the record of S. racemosa L. from N.Z. but the specimen should be referred to S. pubens. The 2 spp. are very closely related although S. racemosa is from Europe and W. Asia. It is distinguished from S. pubens by the glabrous or almost glabrous young shoots, lvs and infl. S. pubens is occasionally cultivated.
