English Yew / Common Yew - Taxus baccata

Habitat

• native to Europe and northern parts of Africa

Habit and Form

• large evergreen shrub or small tree

• 30' to 50' tall and 20' wide

• wide spreading, dense branches

• dark green colour

• medium texture

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 colour to leaves

• leave apex has a horny point

• stems have brownish scales at base

Flowers

• not ornamentally important

• dioecious

Fruit

• solitary seeds, slightly compressed, round and flessy, red

Bark

• flakey, furrowed reddish brown bark

• older trunks are fluted

Usage:

The yew is a valuable tree for making furniture, and it can be used as hedge too.

Its poisonous effect is known from the ancient times. Every part of it contains highly toxic alkaloid.

Alkaloids: taxin, taxiphillin, cyan glycoside.

The poisonous effect is similar to the digitialis purpurea’s - nausea, dizziness, and arrhythmia.

Its pine needles were brewed in the ancient times to make curare.

Healing effects:

The pharmaceutical industry uses is because its neurotoxicant content.

The folk healing uses it to worm drive, against heart failures and to initiate menstruation.

Sponsors:

Ministry of National Resources

University of Szeged

KEFAG Zrt.

Future of Europe Association