Forming dense stands in hedgerows, on rough ground and woodland margins, Dwarf Elder is a large perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m. It bears dense umbels (6-10cm across) of small, white, 5-petalled flowers (3-5mm across) on stout, erect, grooved stems. Occasionally tinged pink, these flowers have purple anthers.The leaves are pinnate in 7-13 sharply-toothed leaflets, oblong-lanceolate and at their base are oval stipules. The fruit is a small fleshy berry, black when ripe. Dwarf Elder is an introduced shrub which is scattered throughout Ireland. It flowers from June to August and belongs to the Adoxaceae or Moschatel family.
I first saw and photographed this plant near Loop Head in Co Clare while recording with Stephen Ward, BSBI Joint Vice-county Recorder for the county.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
