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Taxus baccata

(English Yew;european Yew)

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Dutch:

Taxus

Common Names in English:

Common Yew, English Yew, English Yew;european Yew, European Yew, Robust Irish Yew, Yew

Common Names in German:

Eibe

Description

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Family Taxaceae

Trees or shrubs evergreen , dioecious or rarely monoecious. Leaves spirally arranged or decussate, linear or lanceolate, abaxial surface with 1 stomatal band on each side of prominent or inconspicuous midvein , resin canal present or absent. Pollen cones solitary in leaf or bract axils, or aggregated into spikelike complexes apically on branches; microsporophylls numerous ; pollen sacs 3-9, radially arranged or on outer side of microsporophyll and then with distinct adaxial and abaxial surfaces; pollen nonsaccate. Seed-bearing structures solitary or paired in axils of leaves or bracts, pedunculate or sessile, with several overlapping or decussate bracts at base ; ovule solitary, borne at apex of floral axis, erect . Seed sessile or pedunculate, drupelike or nutlike, partially enclosed in a succulent, saccate or cupular aril, or completely enclosed within aril; female gametophyte tissue abundant. Cotyledons 2. Germination epigeal, hypogeal in Torreya.

Five genera and 21 species; mainly N hemisphere (except Austrotaxus R. H. Compton: New Caledonia) ; four genera (one endemic) and 11 species (five endemic, one introduced ) in China.[1]

Genus Taxus

Trees or shrubs dioecious or monoecious. Bark reddish brown, scaly . Branches ascending to drooping ; twigs irregularly alternate, green or yellow-green when young, reddish brown in age. Leaves often appearing 2-ranked, flexible ; stomates abaxial , in 2 broad, pale bands ; apex soft-pointed, mucronate , not sharp to touch; resin canal absent. Pollen cones globose , yellowish, with 4--16 peltate sporophylls, each bearing 2--9 sporangia. Ovule 1. Seed maturing in 1 season , brown; aril scarlet to orange-scarlet, soft, mucilaginous , thick, cup-shaped, open at apex, exposing hard seed coat ; albumen uniform . x = 12.

Species 6--10: mainly north temperate regions .

The species of Taxus, discouragingly similar, are more geographically than morphologically separable; they were all treated by R. K . F. Pilger (1903) as subspecies of T. baccata Linnaeus. Detailed study of the genus (not neglecting the cultivated representatives), including extensive fieldwork, is much needed and long overdue.

The foliage , bark, and seeds---but not the fleshy red aril---of most Taxus species are toxic due to the presence of taxine (M. R. Cooper and A. W. Johnson 1984; J. M. Kingsbury 1964) ; this alkaloid, however, was not found in T. brevifolia (I. Jones and E. V. Lynn 1933). Two Eurasian species, T. baccata Linnaeus (English yew) and T. cuspidata Siebold & Zuccarini (Japanese yew), are best known and documented for toxicity. Cattle have been poisoned by T. canadensis planted in British Columbia, but toxicity of T. brevifolia has not been conclusively recorded (J. M. Kingsbury 1964). Although horses, cattle, and humans have been poisoned by ingesting yew leaves and seeds, the fresh foliage of T. canadensis is browsed by deer, and that of T. brevifolia by moose.

The only other yew native to the New World is Taxus globosa Schlechtendahl of Mexico and Honduras. The Old World T. baccata Linnaeus and T. cuspidata Siebold & Zuccarini---and T. ´ media Rehder, the alleged hybrid between these two---are common in cultivation in the flora area.

Although no extralimital species of Taxus is naturalized in North America, spontaneous, immature (sapling ) exotic yews have been noted in a very few localities in the northeastern United States within the range of Taxus canadensis. Apparently originating from seeds dispersed (probably by birds) from cultivated yews, these plants differ from T. canadensis in having typically erect (rather than sprawling ) stems. Immature volunteer yews are, with the use of macromorphological characters and with our present knowledge, probably unidentifiable to species.

Although species of Taxus are much cultivated in the Pacific Northwest, spontaneous yews have not been recorded there away from cultivated individuals, in the vicinity of which (or under which) they may reseed. Should such volunteers be found, the shape of their leaf epidermal cells as viewed in cross section---wider than tall (rather than taller than wide) or ± isodiametric---may be used to distinguish them from T. brevifolia.[2]

Physical Description

ID Features: Dark green needles that end in a horny tip. Wide spreading branches with spirally arranged needles. Brown scales in stems. Reddish brown flaking bark. Red fleshy seeds.

Habit: A large evergreen shrub or small tree with wide spreading , dense branches. • Growth Form: Single CrownShape and Orientation: Decumbent

Flowers: Not ornamentally important. Dioecious. • Bloom Period: Mid SpringFlower Color: Yellow • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed per Pound: 6400 • Seed Spread Rate: Slow • Seedling Vigor: Low • Fruit: Solitary seeds, slightly compressed , round and flessy, red. • Fruit/Seed Abundance: Low • Fruit/Seed Color: Red • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes • Cold Stratification Required: Yes

Foliage: Foliage Color: Green • Summer foliage: Spirally arranged needle-like leaves, appears to be two-ranked if grown in. shade. 0.5" to 1.25" long and up to 0.25" wide, convexed and has a prominent . midrib . Dark green color to leaves. Leave apex has a horny point . Stems have brownish scales at base . • Fall foliage: No fall color, evergreen . • Foliage Porosity Summer: Dense • Foliage Porosity Winter: Dense • Foliage Texture: Medium • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: Yes

Size/Age/Growth

Active Growth Period: Spring and Summer • Growth Rate: Slow • Mature Height (feet): 2.0 • Maximum Height at 20 Years (feet): 2 • Size: 30' to 50' tall and 20' wide. • Vegetative Spread Rate: Moderate • Lifespan: Lifespan

Landscaping

Landscape Uses: For parks. Gardens. In shade. Cultivars can be used as understory shrubs . Hedges . Screens . In groupings or mass plantings . Topiary. Decoration. • Liabilities: Toxic . Not as cold hardy as other Taxus. Strong winds can cause desiccation in winter months. Taxus scale. Mealybugs.

Habitat

Zone 6, zone 5 in protected sites.

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 2,582 meters (0 to 8,471 feet).[3]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: PerennialCoppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: Yes • Propagated by Seed: No • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: No • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Summer • Fruit/Seed Period End: FallFruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: PH adaptable. Prefers moist, well-drained, soil. Does well in sun or shade. Keep out of windswept sites. Does not like extreme cold or extreme heat. Transplants easily.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: None • Salinity Tolerance: Medium • CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium • Minimum pH: 5.4 • Maximum pH: 7.3 • Fertility Requirement: Medium

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun . • Shade Tolerance: Tolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High • Minimum Precipitation: 32 • Maximum Precipitation: 60 • Moisture Use: Low

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): -33°F. • Minimum Frost Free Days: 100 • Cold Hardiness: 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Taxus baccata eubaccata Pilg.
  2. Taxus baccifera Theophr. Ex Bubani
  3. Taxus communis J. Nelson
  4. Taxus lugubris Salisb.
  5. Taxus pectinata Gilib.

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Farjon A., 11-Jan-2006

Place of publication : Sp. pl. 2:1040. 1753

Name verified on 09-Nov-1999 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 09-Nov-1999

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Taxus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 274 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

T. adpressa · T. aurea · T. baccata (English Yew;european Yew) · T. baccata 'Adpressa' · T. baccata L. 'Adpressa Erecta' · T. baccata 'Adpressa Fowle' · T. baccata 'Adpressa Stricta' · T. baccata 'Adpressa Variegata' · T. baccata L. 'Albovariegata' · T. baccata 'Aldenham Gold' · T. baccata 'Amersfoort' (Amersfoort English Yew) · T. baccata 'Argentea' · T. baccata Argentea Group · T. baccata 'Argentea Minor' · T. baccata L. 'Argenteo Marginata' · T. baccata L. 'Aurea' · T. baccata 'Aurea Pendula' · T. baccata 'Aureomarginata' · T. baccata L. 'Aureovariegata' · T. baccata 'Autumn Shades' · T. baccata L. 'Backhousii' · T. baccata L. 'Barronii' · T. baccata L. 'Beteramsii' · T. baccata brevifolia (Pacific Yew) · T. baccata 'Bridget's Gold' · T. baccata L. 'Buxtonensis' · T. baccata canadensis · T. baccata L. 'Cappenberg' · T. baccata 'Cavendishii' · T. baccata 'Cheshuntensis' · T. baccata L. var. chinensis (Pilg.) Florin · T. baccata L. 'Columnaris' · T. baccata 'Compacta' · T. baccata L. 'Compressa' · T. baccata L. 'Conica' · T. baccata L. 'Contorta' · T. baccata 'Corleys Coppertip' · T. baccata 'Cristata' · T. baccata cuspidata (Japanese Yew) · T. baccata 'David' · T. baccata 'Davie' · T. baccata L. 'Davisii' · T. baccata 'Decora' · T. baccata L. 'Decore' · T. baccata 'Dovastoniana' · T. baccata 'Dovastoniana Pendula' · T. baccata 'Dovastonii' · T. baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea' · T. baccata 'Dovastonii Aureo-variegata' · T. baccata L. 'Dovastoni' · T. baccata 'Drinkstone Gold' · T. baccata 'Dwarf White' · T. baccata 'Elegantissima' · T. baccata 'Erecta' · T. baccata L. 'Erecta Aureovariegata' · T. baccata 'Ericoides' · T. baccata f. overeynderi · T. baccata 'Fastigiata' (English Yew) · T. baccata L. 'Fastigiata Aurea' · T. baccata Fastigiata Aurea Group · T. baccata 'Fastigiata Aureomarginata' · T. baccata 'Fastigiata Aureovariegata' · T. baccata 'Fastigiata Variegata' · T. baccata 'Glauca' · T. baccata 'Glenroy New Penny' · T. baccata 'Goud Elsje' · T. baccata 'Gracilis Pendula' · T. baccata 'Grayswood Hill' · T. baccata 'Green Column' · T. baccata 'Green Diamond' · T. baccata L. 'Hessei' · T. baccata 'Hibernica' · T. baccata L. 'Hicksii' · T. baccata 'Hopkins' · T. baccata 'Icicle' · T. baccata L. 'Imperialis' · T. baccata 'Itsy Bitsy' · T. baccata 'Ivory Tower' · T. baccata 'Jacksonii' (English Yew) · T. baccata 'Judith' · T. baccata 'Klitzeklein' · T. baccata 'Laurie' · T. baccata 'Lutea' (English Yew) · T. baccata 'Melfard' · T. baccata 'Michelii' · T. baccata L. 'Moons Columnaris' · T. baccata 'Nana' · T. baccata 'Neidpathensis' · T. baccata 'Nutans' · T. baccata L. 'Overeynderi Tharandtensis' · T. baccata 'Pendula' · T. baccata 'Procumbens' · T. baccata 'Prostrata' · T. baccata L. 'Prostrata Aurea' · T. baccata 'Pumila Aurea' · T. baccata 'Pygmaea' · T. baccata 'Pyramidalis' · T. baccata 'Repandens' (Repandens Spreading English Yew) · T. baccata 'Repandens Aurea' (Spreading English Yew) · T. baccata 'Repens Aurea'

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 11, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Liguo Fu, Nan Li & Robert R. Mill "Taxaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 89. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. "Taxus". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. Mean = 120.910 meters (396.686 feet), Standard Deviation = 146.690 based on 10,881 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/1/2009