Blue elderberry

Description:

Large deciduous shrub about 12 ft tall (can reach 20 ft) that produces bright blue berry-like drupes that are valuable to birds and wildlife. The fruit encloses a single seed. The fruit is edible after ripening and cooked. The leaves are hairless, strongly pointed and sharp-toothed.

Habitat:

Spotted along the Umtanum Creek trail. Cascade Mountain foothills.

Notes:

The indigenous peoples of North America, with the plant in their homelands, use the leaves, blossoms, bark, roots, and wood for preparing traditional medicinal remedies, taken internally or applied externally.The fresh, dried, and cooked berries are used for food. Some tribes used the wood to make musical instruments, such as flutes, clappers, and small whistles; and smoking implements. Soft wood was used as a spindle "twirling stick" to make fire by friction. The bark was used to produce a remedy for fever. Stems and berries were used as a dye for basket weaving materials. (Wikipedia)