Elder

Elder is a small tree of hedgerows and old gardens, long held to be a protective tree. It is planted near doors, and it is said that where it grows, witches are powerless. Yet it is held unlucky to bring a branch indoors, for it may bring creatures of the Xenos with it, and the old advise against sleeping beneath it. In the north it is said that an Elder Mother dwells in the tree, and that her leave must be asked before it is cut. Healers use the flowers and the cooked berries against sore throat and sleeplessness. The leaves and raw berries are poisonous, and the bark is a violent purge. Its wood is made into pipes and whistles.

See also: Hawthorn, St John’s Wort