elder

In botany, any of a group of small trees or shrubs belonging to the honeysuckle family, native to North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Some are grown as ornamentals for their showy yellow or white flower clusters and their colourful black or scarlet berries. (Genus Sambucus, family Caprifoliaceae.)

The American elder (Sambucus canadensis) reaches tree size and has blue berries. The common elder (S. nigra) of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia has pinnate leaves (leaflets growing either side of a stem) and heavy heads of small, sweet-scented, white flowers in early summer. These are followed by clusters of small, black, shiny berries. The scarlet-berried S. racemosa is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.

elder

In the Presbyterian church, a lay member who assists the minister (or teaching elder) in running the church.