What kind of plant is this ?

[mojjax]

I sniped this branch off . The plant was 4 feet tall , growing in the Maine woods . Just curious

 

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[IronSpike]

Black Elder (sambucus nigra).

Added. Maybe not Black Elder, but looks closely related.

American Red Elder:

http://www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/photo-gallery/herbaceous/lg/Denniston_1180_800.jpg

 

[Bramblefind]

Nice ID Iron Spike

Thanks for solving this so quickly b/c I was on the total wrong track

Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
• Red elderberry is named for its red clusters of
berries. It is closely related to blue elderberry.
• Red elderberries are a favorite food for many
birds such as grosbeaks, finches, and robins.
• The foliage is browsed by deer and elk. This
plant produces a bitter chemical to protect
itself when over-browsed.
• Red elderberry colonizes disturbed areas such
as landslides and logging clear-cuts and is part
of the early succession of a forest ecology.
• The whole plant is somewhat toxic, and wild
red elderberries are best left for the birds.

 

[SkyPirate]

Cranberry! eat it!

 

[Monty]

They used to make elderberry wine around these parts or so I am told. And then my scout master said they were poison so I never had the guts to taste one of the berries! Monty

 

[trikikiwi]

I highly recommend home-made Elderberry Flower Champagne.
An old friend used to make it.
Plenty of recipes on google - here's one

http://tinyurl.com/2abouhe

a very nice light, refreshing tipple, from my experience.
I do recall, eventful bottle openings too, so treat it like home-made ginger beer

Cheers Mike