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The Chinese elder (Sambucus chinensis) belongs to Caprifoliaceae (the Honeysuckle family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed from Honshu to Shikoku, Kyushu in Japan, the Korean Peninsula and China. This herb grows in forest edges on hills and dales, or near town, and can reach 1-1.5 m in height. The leaves are imparipinnate, opposite and resemble to Japanese edlerberry. The large corymbs are borne and the white flowers bloom in July to August. There are yellow bell-shaped secretory portions in patches of clusters, and they are nectariferous and attract insects. The dried leaves and rootstocks are used as a herbal medicine for rheumatism, bruise or diuresis.
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