American black
elderberry, Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis (L.) R. Bolli, shown below is rather easy to identify
due to several distinctive keys, including opposite pinnately compound leaves, thick
pith, and stems covered with corky lenticels. Due
to the thick pith plus loose bark the stems can be used to make whistles
although I not sure of every manufacturing step. The fruit is used for jelly and wine even
though some people believe it is toxic.
If anything is should just be cooked rather than eaten fresh. I saw the reportedly toxic red elder, S. racemosa L. var. racemosa, shown to the right while at Philmont Scout Ranch in 
The taxonomy has been changed so these species are
considered circumpolar with some former species now reduced to subspecies or
varieties as reflected here. Meanwhile genetic research is reported to
result in moving this genus from the Honeysuckle family to the Moschatael family, Adoxaceae,
along with the Viburnum L. genus, but for now both will still be shown in Caprifoliaceae until this is more conclusive (the source in not from the internet).
