Scientific Name:               Sambucus Canadensis
Common Name(s):         Elderberry, American Elderberry, Common Elderberry, Canada Elderberry

Figure 1: Photos of Elderberry shrub, bark, and leaves. Photos by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician
Figure 1: Photo of Elderberry flower from the side to show the umbrella-like shape. Photos of the progression of Elderberry flower into berry. Photos by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Fisheries & Water Quality Sr. Technician. Mature Elderberry photo by ©H. Zell

Identification:

Elderberry is a native shrub in the family Adoxaceae and genus Sambucus. Elderberry is a large shrub that can reach heights up to 20 feet and can span an area of 6 feet or more. It has many stems that arise from the base with a very soft pith (inside anatomy of stem). The bark is gray with light gray patches on older stems. The leaves have toothed margins and are pinnate (oblong with a pointed tip) in shape. Elderberry has compound or grouped leaves of 3-5 in an opposite arrangement in groups (Figure 1). It produces flower clusters in June and July. These fragrant small white flowers all originate from a single stem and branch into individual flowers. The small flowers form an umbrella shaped mass of white flowers called a corymb. The individual white flowers are radially symmetric (symmetry like a starfish) and are less than half an inch in diameter (5-6 mm) and have 5 small petals. The berries are first green with red stems and mature into blackish-purple berries in August to September. The berries are small, about one quarter inch in diameter (Figure 2).

https://plants.usda.gov/home

Range:
Elderberry is native to most of North America except for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. It is also native to some parts of Canada.

Ecology:
The elderberry’s stems have a soft white pith that is easily hollowed out which is the source for the etymology of both the common and scientific name. The name elder is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “aeld,” which means to kindle or fire since they were used to blow on kindling from a distance. Similarly, the genus name is Sambucus which originates from the Greek “sambuce,” an ancient flute-like instrument since the stems can be fashioned into whistles.

Elderberry is a large deciduous shrub that produces suckers which are sprouts that originate from the roots. Elderberry is naturally found in edge habitats, meaning it is common on forest edges, streamside habitat, lakeside habitat, and pond habitat. Elderberry will does well in full sun to part shade with soil that is moist, fertile, and well drained. It will persist during dry periods once it has established its roots. Since elderberry produces suckers it can be used to protect habitat that is in danger of erosion such as lakesides, streambanks, or eroding hillsides.

All parts of the elderberry can be toxic in large quantities because they contain cyanogenic glycosides which are also present in apple seeds (e.g., cyanide). If the berries are boiled, they are safe to ingest. Today, people commonly use elderberries to make jams, syrup, pies, and crumbles. Elderberry berries are known to have high amounts of vitamin A and C, potassium, folate, calcium, and iron. The berries are made into tinctures and supplements and are readily available today and sold as immunity boosting supplements. Historically, elderberry was used by American indigenous peoples as far as 1200 to 1000 BCE. The Iroquois tribes would boil the inner bark and use it as a pain reliever for toothaches. The soft inner pith was used as a salve for cuts, abrasions, and burns. The flower was used in infused teas for fevers and colic babies.

Elderberry can easily be cultivated from stem cutting from live plants. These cuttings can be placed in water to promote root growth.  Adding a rooting hormone can speed up this process. The first year of life is the most critical for care and watering, but once established it will do well without much support. The plant produces berries within the first three years, but it is recommended to clip the flowers to promote foliage and root growth if they arrive before the third year. When planted in a sunny location, elderberry can produce many berries. Elderberry is deer resistant. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators as well as songbirds.

Special Notes:
Here in Bella Vista, elderberry can be found along lakes, streams, and forest margins. The white flowers can bloom around the same time as other white flowers that form umbrella shaped flower clusters. It will be significantly taller than other flowers, have a very pleasing floral scent, and woody stems that all originate from one spot. It will usually be found in stands. Other white flowers that bloom around the same time are poison hemlock and wild carrot, which are not shrubs so will not have woody stems. Hemlock and wild carrot also have leaves similar in appearance to parsley and will not have a pleasing smell. Poison hemlock specifically will have a purple stem and must be avoided.  Elderberry tends to bloom later as well.

Scientific Name: Daucus carota & Conium maculatum Common Name(s): Daucos carota – Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, Birds Nest, Bishop’s Lace|Conium maculatum – Poison Hemlock, Wild Hemlock, Hemlock ©Jane Shelby Richardson ©AnRo0002 Identification: Both wild carrot and hemlock are in the family Apiaceae commonly known as the carrot family which is the 16th largest family […]

Scientific Name: Coragyps atratus

Common Name(s): Black Vulture, Mexican Vulture, Zopilotes, Gallinazo

©Cayambe

Identification:

Black vultures are in the family Accipitridae which includes eagles, hawks, kits, and harriers. Black vultures have black plumage, featherless black head and neck, and a short, hooked beak. They have broad wings, a short tail, and neat white stars under their wing tips. With a wingspan of around 5 feet, they are relatively small compared to other vulture species. When in flight, they splay out their wing tips almost like fingers. Turkey vultures can be distinguished from Black vultures by their red head and larger size.

Range:

Black vulture range includes the south and east coast of North America through Mexico and down to the entirety of South America. However, with increased temperatures, black vulture range has extended into some areas north of their highlighted range such as parts of Kansas, Indiana, and as far north as Maine. Although it is a very common species, its range is more restricted than the Turkey vulture which will live as far north as Southern Canada.

Ecology:

Black vultures are social and live in small flocks where they share food with one another. They nest in caves, hollow trees, or bare ground and produce 2 young per year. The young are well taken care of, and parents feed them months after they fledge. Interestingly, black vultures do not have the vocal organ in birds, called the syrinx, so they communicate in grunts or low hisses.

They are known to eat carrion (dead animals) and eggs. They offer ecological assistance in removing dead animals which might otherwise carry diseases that are a concern for human health. In areas with catastrophic declines in vulture populations, there are increases in populations of coyotes, rats, and feral dogs as well as increases in diseases such as rabies, brucellosis, and anthrax.

Black vultures have keen eyesight, but poor smell compared to turkey vultures. They soar high above the tree line and watch turkey vultures very closely. When they see a turkey vulture dive toward something they follow close behind. The turkey vulture is larger so will win out against a single Black vulture. However, a group of black vultures will easily scare away the turkey vulture, which does not live socially with other birds. Despite their importance in ecological waste disposal, they can become a nuisance species. In large numbers, they can become a menace for property owners, ripping up shingles, boat and car seat stuffing, pulling out window linings in cars, and defecating on property. It is likely that they are using this material for nesting, but there may be other reasons for this behavior.

Unlike other vultures, some people believe black vultures to be predatory. Farmers have given accounts of black vultures predating on newly born calves, calves in the process of being born, or estranged weak cows, in a herd. There is no empirical evidence that backs up these anecdotal observations and scientists believe that they do not kill the animals. Instead, some scientists hypothesize that the farm animals were in the process of dying when they were ultimately taken by the vultures. Increasing temperatures have led to an expanded range of black vultures into Indiana and some northern states where a lot of these predatory behaviors are observed. In 2021, scientists at Purdue University began researching this phenomenon to better understand if black vultures possess true predatory behavior:

<https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2021/Q2/purdue-asks-livestock-producers-for-help-studying-losses-due-to-black-vultures.html>

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, black vultures roost behind Allen’s Grocery and by Lake Bella Vista. They can also be seen nesting on the rock bluff at Lake Ann. They may be seen in large flocks congregating around the various lake parks, like Ann Park and Tyree Park.

Scientific Name:           Phoradandram leucarpum

Common Name(s):        Oak mistletoe, American mistletoe, Eastern mistletoe, and hairy mistletoe
By: Karla Sayre

©Loadmaster ©Cressler, Alan

Identification:

Oak mistletoe is a common parasite that prefers the high branches of hardwood trees where it forms into a shrub-like clumping ball of vegetation that can grow up to 3.5 feet in length.  It lives on the branches of living trees and is an evergreen, which makes it most visible in the winter when trees are bare of leaves.   They form smooth, green, jointed stems with thick leathery leaves which are oriented opposite from one another.  Oak mistletoe is a vascular plant which produces flowers and berries.  The flowers bloom between September and October and are small and yellow.  Their berries form in November and can remain until late winter.  The berries are white and around 3 to 6 mm in diameter with a thick wax coating and sticky pulp.  The pulp is toxic to humans, but the berries are enjoyed by birds such as waxwings, grouse, mourning doves, evening grosbeaks, robins, and bluebirds.

Range:

Oak mistletoe is found in the southern, southeastern, and east coasts of the United States as well as Mexico.

Ecology:

Oak mistletoe is a type of obligate hemiparasitic plant.  Obligate means it needs its host to complete its life cycle.  Hemiparasitic, meaning it is a parasite but produces its own chlorophyll.  It does rely on the host plant for water, carbon, and some minerals, which means it remains photosynthetic but also relies on its host plant for water and some carbon or minerals. Mistletoe berries are eaten by birds.  Some seeds survive digestion and can form new plants when they are excreted onto living branches.  Similarly, birds can wipe seeds on branches when they are cleaning their beaks.  Mistletoe can live on up to 60 species of tree but prefer high branches of hardwood trees such as oaks, maples, willows, poplars, elms, walnut, and plane trees. Oak mistletoe can form thick clumps sometimes referred to as “witches’ brooms.”  These are used as nesting spaces for many types of owls (spotted, great gray, large-eared) and hawks (goshawk and sharp-shinned).  They are also used as homes for many common migratory birds, including gray jays, house wrens, mourning dove, chickadee, cassin’s finch, and pine siskin.

Special Notes:

In Bella Vista, mistletoe is visible on tall oaks and other common hardwood trees.  Being an evergreen shrub, it is especially noticeable during the winter months when trees are bare of leaves. Our local species is a surrogate for the European species and the tradition of “kissing under the mistletoe” around the winter holidays.  Mistletoe is still harvested and sold for that purpose.