Elderflower ID

[Rumpole_Stiltskin]

Planning on going to pick some elderflowers tomorrow to make some wine out of.

I think I've got it all sorted.

Could a few of you have a quick look as a double check to minimise the likely hood of me poisoning myself please.

*Is?*
https://imgur.com/v8pQ2F5

https://imgur.com/N7IYwFq

https://imgur.com/MGkCl4M

https://imgur.com/lsdGvPK

https://imgur.com/QqMX1yy

https://imgur.com/25xcDCk



*Is Not?*
https://imgur.com/iPPP3xM

https://imgur.com/eAJmF4t

https://imgur.com/hS6jPjO

https://imgur.com/DOWwIMS

https://imgur.com/JxweFz2

 

[nicksteele1990]

From the IS pictures, I'm pretty confident that's elder. Useful features to see are the toothy edge to the leaves, and that the leaves are opposite each other on the stem. Have a read of this:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/vi...nd-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/elder/

It's got some useful pictures to compare to. Just bear in mind as well that picking the flowers now means no elderberries in the autumn.

As for the is NOT, I'm not sure. Might even be several similar looking plants, I just can't tell. It COULD be cow parsley or sweet cicely, or some other relative of the carrot family, but I can't even tell you that with any confidence. In any case, certainly not elder.

Please don't take the above as dead certain, and please be absolutely sure of what you're picking. Personally I think elder is an easy ID - it's certainly worth doing some extra reading just to be sure.

 

[Toddy]

The first ones are elderflower.
It's a shrubby tree. The flourish is quite scented, pleasantly so, while the leaves are unpleasantly so.

The spreads of flourish will go over quickly, and they are usually full of little minute flourish flies. Just cut the heads and lay them out on a tray outdoors for an hour or so, and the wee beasties will crawl and fly off.

nicksteele90's point is well made though; if you take the flowers you won't have berries later, so don't strip the tree entirely. A few spreads from a selection of trees is usually fine.

That said, see while you're picking ? notice the tree and notice how the flourish smells on each of them. They're all different. Not a lot, but enough that over time you learn which ones are better for elderflower cordial and which ones grow sweeter berries.

M

 

[Rumpole_Stiltskin]

Thanks both.

Very re-assuring to know that I could ID it - although it's fairly easy.

1st batch in the making.

 

[Tony]

Cool, let us know how it turns out, our first batch started last night

 

[Billy-o]

Toddy is right pointing out the fragrance. Some of them do smell a bit cat.