138 YEW 



(a) Buds very small, with few scales, globoid, 

 dark chestnut-brown, the terminal one 

 closely invested by young leaves ; leaves 

 linear, flat and pointed (pseudo-distich- 

 ous); seed single, ovoid, in a scarlet- 

 crimson fleshy arillus. 



Taxus baccata, L. Yew (Fig. 61). Unmistakeable in 

 seed, but the apparently distichous foliage will raise 

 difficulties to beginners with regard to the Silver Fir 



Fig. 61. Yew, Taxus baccata (D). 



and some other Firs. The reddish scaly bark, pointed 

 leaves, small chestnut-brown globoid buds, irregular 

 branching and tufted habit are useful characters. 



(/3) Buds larger, 1 2 cm. long, with numerous 

 brown scales, more or less conical-pointed. 

 Trees with true woody cones. 

 * Buds dry, not resinous, cylindroid or sub- 

 conic, pointed, pale brown. Shoots not 

 hairy. Two or three buds terminate each 

 shoot, and one or two sub-opposite occur 

 lower down ; pulvini prominent, and leaves 

 4-angled and hardly pungent, slightly 

 pseudo-distichous. Cones pendent. 



