2. Adoxaceae

When I first moved to California's Central Coast, the blooms of wild elderberry trees - seen along roads and in thickets (above) - caught my attention. Those trees were Sambucus mexicana. They used to belong to the Caprifoliaceae or Honeysuckle family, but were moved to the Adoxaceae by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). The better-known Sambucus nigra is the species used by herbalists to treat coughs and colds. I love saying the word "Sambucus", which to me has a musical ring, and conjures up images of coffee and bongo drums (don't ask me why).