[Elderberries: The Genus Sambucus in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Blue Elder, Blue Elderberry, Southwestern Elderberry

Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea

Synonyms: Sambucus caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus caerulea var. velutina, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus cerulea var. velutina, Sambucus glauca, Sambucus mexicana ssp. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. cerulea, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus neomexicana var. vestita, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea, Sambucus velutina

Blue Elder, Blue Elderberry, Southwestern Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea (Synonyms: Sambucus caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus caerulea var. velutina, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus cerulea var. velutina, Sambucus glauca, Sambucus mexicana ssp. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. cerulea, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus neomexicana var. vestita, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea, Sambucus velutina)

The photo above shows a close-up of the flat-topped inflorescence and pinnately compound leaves of blue elderberry as seen at about 4100' along the ridgetop dividing the Cougar and Dairy Creek drainages at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams.......July 10, 2005.

Pinnately compound leaf of Blue Elder, Blue Elderberry, Southwestern Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea (Synonyms: Sambucus caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus caerulea var. velutina, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus cerulea var. velutina, Sambucus glauca, Sambucus mexicana ssp. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. cerulea, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus neomexicana var. vestita, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea, Sambucus velutina)

The photo above shows a close-up of the pinnately compound leaves of blue elderberry as seen at about 3000' on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams........June 19, 2005.

Mature fruits of Blue Elder, Blue Elderberry, Southwestern Elderberry: Sambucus cerulea (Synonyms: Sambucus caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus caerulea var. velutina, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus cerulea var. velutina, Sambucus glauca, Sambucus mexicana, Sambucus mexicana ssp. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. cerulea, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus neomexicana var. vestita, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea, Sambucus velutina)

Maturing fruits of blue elder berry as spotted along the Willard Springs Trail, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge......August 26, 2018.
Paul Slichter