Leaves of elder. Abstract arrangement of leaves from the elder tree (Sambucus nigra). These are leaves from a young plant and have a strongly serrated edge. Elder is a dicotyledonous flowering plant, which means it has leaves with branching veins and a seed with two cotyledons (embryo leaves). The central vein of each leaf contains vascular bundles for transport of water and minerals to the leaf, and carbohydrates away from the leaf. Leaf veins branch alternately from the central vein. Elder is a common hedgerow tree and grows wild throughout Europe.