THE ELDERBERRY FAMILY (Adoxaceae)

In older classifications, this entire family was part of Caprifoliaceae (the honeysuckle family). It was reclassified as a result of biomolecular analysis and phylogenetic studies.

It includes elders, mostly shrubs, but with two species of large herbaceous plants, all with compound leaves, and viburnums which are all shrubs with simple leaves. Leaves are characteristically toothed (dentate) and arranged oppositely along the stem.

It is a small family of flowering plants characterised by oppositely arranged, toothed leaves.

Flowers are small with five or, more rarely, four-petals in branched clusters, with berries in the fruiting stage. (Adoxa, (‘five-faced bishop’) sole representative in Europe of this genus is an exception with its distinctive inflorescence)

(source: Wikipedia)