In France there is a plant called Sambucus Ebulus that is toxic, and can easily be confused with Sambucus Nigra if you are not familiar true elder.

Sambucus Ebulus looks and smells exactly like Sambucus Nigra, until your notice that it grows annually, (It is not a tree, as Sambucus nigra is).

True elder is traditionally used against flu and colds, and has now been "proved, by scientists" to be effective... Why all those "old wives" should have been assumed wrong until proved otherwise I can't imagine.

Elderberry wine with added spices is my favourite.

Jenny