Western yew

Taxus brevifolia

Family: Taxaceae.

Type: Small to medium-sized conifer.

Leaves: Needles are arranged in flat sprays. Growth is disorganized and sloppy, which is a useful identifying characteristic.

Twig: Bark is thin and purplish.

Cone: Seeds are borne in structures called arils: sticky red translucent flesh surrounding the seed.

Miscellaneous: Western yew is very shade tolerant, and prefers cool, moist locations. It is not at all resistant to fire. It is found mainly in Pacific Northwest forests into British Columbia; Calaveras is at roughly its most southern extension, and is the only place where it is found with giant sequoia. The cancer drug taxol was originally isolated from a relative of the Western yew.





All photos and text ©2008 Ben Haller. Permission is granted to use and reproduce these photos for any non-commercial or non-profit use as long as this original copyright notice is retained.