Yew Tree West Bromwich Yew Tree

Yews are small coniferous trees or shrubs of the genus Taxus in the Yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m. They have reddish bark, lanceolate, flat, dark-green leaves 1-4 cm long and 2-3 mm broad.

The seed cones are highly modified, each cone containing a single seed 4-7 mm long partly surrounded by a modified scale which develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an arilAn aril is a fleshy covering of certain seeds formed from the funiculus (attachment point of the seed). The aril creates a fruit-like structure (called a false-fruit and is produced by a few species of gymnosperms, notably the yews of the Family Taxaceae., 8-15 mm long and wide and open at the end. The arils are mature 6-9 months after pollination, and with the seed contained are eaten by thrushThe word thrush can mean more than one thing: Thrush is the common name for the bird family Turdidae. Thrush is also the common name for the fungal infection candidiasis or candida. THRUSH is a fictional criminal organization in The Man From U.es, waxwingWaxwings : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Passeriformes : Bombycillidae Bombycilla Bombycilla garrulusBombycilla japonicaBombycilla cedrorum This is a group of passerine birds characterised by soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feaths and other birdFor other meanings of bird see bird (disambiguation). Many see text Birds are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates characterized primarily by feathers, forelimbs modified as wings, and hollow bones. There are almost 9000 known species of birds ins, which disperse the hard seeds undamaged in their droppings; maturation of the arils is spread over 2-3 months, increasing the chances of successful seed dispersal. The male cones are globose, 3-6 mm diameter, and shed their pollenSEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower Helianthus annuus , morning glory Ipomea purpurea ,hollyhock Sildalcea malviflora , lily Lilium auratum , primrose Oenothera fruticosa , and castor bean Ricinus communis . Pollen is a f in early spring. Yews are mostly dioeciousPlant sexuality deals with the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. That plants employ many different strategies to engage in sexual reproduction was used, from just a structural perspective, by Carolus Linnaeus (173, but occasional individuals can be variably monoeciousPlant sexuality deals with the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. That plants employ many different strategies to engage in sexual reproduction was used, from just a structural perspective, by Carolus Linnaeus (173, or change sex with time.

All of the yews are very closely related to each other, and some botanists treat them all as subspecies or varieties of just one widespread species; under this treatment, the species name used is Taxus baccata, the first yew described scientifically. The most distinct is the Sumatran Yew (T. sumatrana, native from SumatraSumatra or Sumatera is the sixth largest island of the world (approximately 470,000 km²) and is part of Indonesia. Geography The longest axis of the island runs approximately northwest southeast, crossing the equator near the center. The interior of the i and Celebes north to southernmost China), distinguished by its sparse, sickle-shaped yellow-green leaves. The Mexican Yew (T. globosa, native to eastern Mexico south to Honduras) is also relatively distinct with foliage intermediate between Sumatran Yew and the other species.

The Florida Yew, Mexican Yew and Pacific Yew are all rare species listed as threatened or endangered.

All species of yew contain the highly poisonous alkaloid taxine , with some variation in the exact formula of the alkaloid between the species. All parts of the tree except the arils contain the alkaloid. The arils are edible and sweet, but the seed is dangerously poisonous; unlike birds, the human stomach can break down the seed coat and release the taxine into the body. This can have fatal results if yew 'berries' are eaten without removing the seeds first. Grazing animals, particularly cattle and horses, are also sometimes found dead near yew trees after eating the leaves, though deer are able to break down the poisons and will eat yew foliage freely. In the wild, deer browsing of yews is often so extensive that wild yew trees are commonly restricted to cliffs and other steep slopes inaccessible to deer.

Uses & traditions

Yew wood is reddish brown (with whiter sapwood), and is very hard. It was traditionally used to make bows, especially the longbow. Consequently, it is not surprising that, in Norse mythology, the god of the bow, Ull's abode had the name Ydalir (Yew dales). Most longbow wood used in northern Europe was imported from Iberia, where climatic conditions are better for growing the knot-free yew wood required.

The European Yew Taxus baccata, also known as Common Yew or English Yew, is often found in churchyards; some are exceptionally large (over 3 m diameter) and likely to be over 3,000 years old, long predating the churches they are beside. It is likely that yew trees had a pre-Christian association with old pagan holy sites and many believe that the enormous sacred evergreen at the pagan Temple at Uppsala was a yew. The Christian church consequently found it expedient to use and take over these existing sites for churches. It is sometimes suggested that these were planted as a symbol of long life or trees of death. Another explanation is that the yews were planted to discourage farmers and drovers from letting their animals wander into the burial grounds, with the poisonous foliage being the disincentive.

An Irish Yew (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata') planted at Kenilworth Castle

Yews are widely used in landscaping and ornamental horticulture. Over 400 cultivars of yews have been named, the vast majority of these being derived from European Yew, Japanese Yew and the hybrid between them (Taxus x media). The most popular of these are the "Irish Yew" (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'), a fastigiate cultivar of the European Yew, and the several variants with yellow leaves, collectively known as golden yew.

The Pacific Yew Taxus brevifolia, native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, is the source of paclitaxel, a drug with apparent anti- cancer activity. Over-harvesting of the Pacific Yew for this drug has resulted in it becoming an endangered species, though the drug is now produced semi-synthetically from cultivated yews, without the need to further endanger the wild populations. Other yew species contain similar compounds with similar biochemical activity.

The yew tree is a frequent symbol in the Christian poetry of T. S. Eliot, especially his Four Quartets.

Taxaceae

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Uses & traditions

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