Taxus

Common name: Yew
Dutch: Taxus

Identifying Features

  • Habit: Evergreen trees or shrubs, often multi-stemmed, extremely long-lived
  • Leaves: Flat, dark green needles in two ranks, with pale undersides
  • Bark: Reddish-brown, thin, scaly, flaking
  • Seeds: Surrounded by fleshy red aril (berry-like), highly poisonous except aril
  • Distinguishing: No true cones; all parts toxic except red aril flesh

Species Encountered

SpeciesPhotoDateLocation
T. baccata
T. cuspidata
T. × media

Parent: Taxaceae