Taxus baccata
Taxaceae
Late February to April
It is found throughout the country
See the BSBI distribution map for Yew
Yew is found in deciduous woodland, particularly on
limestone, and in churchyards, parks and gardens.
Some trees are ancient, for example, the one shown
in Stoke Gabriel churchyard in Devon, is reputed to be
over 1000 years old and requires propping up.
It is a native, evergreen tree, growing up to 20m.
It is one of only 3 native British conifers. The others
are Scots Pine and Juniper.
Flowers are cream and inconspicuous.
Male flowers are cream with several sporangia on a stalk.
Female flowers are small, green and with a single ovule.
They produce a fleshy green fruit which turns bright red in
the summer. It contains a single woody seed (nut) which
drops with the fleshy fruit. In the picture shown here
the nut was still on the tree.
Leaves are typically coniferous: shiny, dark green on
top and pale green below, with a conspicuous rib.
Seeds germinate readily and offspring from planted trees
become naturalised and mix with the natives.
Older trunks are fissured and the bark is brown.
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Yew tree, Stoke Gabriel, Devon
Branch shape with leaves and berries
Male cones
Close-up of male cones with sporangia and pollen
Young female cones
Close-up of young female cones
Immature cones (berries)
Mature berries
Close-up of berriy with single seed
Large seed
Leaves - glossy upper surface
Close-up of upper surface of leaf
Under surface of leaves
Trunk and bark
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