The elderberry is an erect and bushy shrub, with robust shoots and pinnate leaves up to 25cm long, composed of 5 ovate, toothed and green leaves. At the beginning of summer, it produces white flowers with a hint of moss, collected in flattened panicles, followed by black and shiny globose fruits, up to 8mm wide. Widespread in Europe, excluding the northernmost regions, it lives up to 1500m above sea level. Its parts are used for their diuretic and anti-catarrhal properties; the berries are used in the preparation of jams, syrups and as a purple dye. Upright, bushy shrub, with robust shoots and pinnate leaves, up to 25cm long, composed of 5 ovate, toothed, green leaves. At the beginning of summer, it bears white flowers with a hint of moss, collected in flattened panicles, up to 20cm wide, followed by globose, black, shiny fruits, up to 8mm wide. The branches of this plant were used to make a stringed musical instrument in ancient times, called sambuca in Latin. Excluding the extreme northern regions, the elderberry lives spontaneously throughout the European continent, from the plains up to 1500m above sea level. Elderberry has multiple applications as a medicinal plant; all its parts induce sweating, in particular the flowers, which together with leaves and bark are also used to treat skin diseases, to promote diuresis and as anti-catarrhal agents. The berries have laxative properties and are used in the preparation of jams and syrups. They also have very strong dyeing properties, providing a purple dye.