elder lookalike?

[telwebb]

Typically without camera or phone earlier, I came across a tree that at first looked like an elder but the berries (similarly distributed on the plant) whilst the same colour were much more robust, with a seed that almost filled the fruit. The other giveaway was that whilst all the other elders in the area had been all but stripped by the birdlife this was untouched. Can't find it anywhere - probably because I'm looking in the wrong place. Anybody help me out?

 

[Harvestman]

If the berries are bright red and rather fleshy, with a big stone, they might be Guelder Rose. Tastes horrible when raw, which is good, because too many of them will cause vomiting. They are better (and safer) when cooked, and better still as an ingredient in jam with lots of sugar and some other fruits. I will include them in a hedgerow jam as a lesser ingredient, but otherwise leave them alone.

 

[telwebb]

Hi Harvestman - these are black....?

 

[Harvestman]

Then I don't know. Sorry.

What about the leaves? What shape are they? Photos really help with this sort of enquiry.

 

[telwebb]

hmm - I'll try and remember a camera of some sort if I'm that way again in the next couple of days.

 

[Shewie]

Dogwood maybe ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_sanguinea

 

[telwebb]

yer tis....

Sorry for the image - I was trying to hold the thing still with my other hand!

 

[Harvestman]

Looks like Shewie was spot on. Dogwood.

 

[telwebb]

Thanks both!

 

[addo]

A test to check it is, is to get a leaf and pull it apart along its length. There should be sticky fibres like spider thread joining the two parts, which is a natural latex.
Lovely autumn colour on the leaves and great colour on the young stems, check out car park planting, there's masses of them