TAXACE.E 69 



N. Persia and Algeria. In the Himalayan forests it occurs at 

 6,000-11,000 ft. altitude from Afghanistan to Bhutan. ^ 



Wood tough, strong, heavy, elastic, close-grained, with well- 

 marked heart- and sap-wood, the former reddish or brown, the latter 

 pale yellow or white, the heartwood toning with age and exposure 

 to an effective brown shade. 



It works well, finishes with a smooth, glossy surface, is very 

 durable, and is suitable for furniture, parquet-flooring, panelling, 

 and makes excellent gate and fence posts. In ancient times it 

 was the most popular of all woods for bows and is still used in 

 archery. Transverse sections cut from the base of old trees often 

 show several distinct hearts. This is brought about by erect shoots, 

 springing from near the ground, developing into stems several 

 inches in diameter and then becoming overgrown by the main 

 trunk. Such sections are sometimes utilized for table-tops. 

 Yew wood turns well and can be made into candlesticks and other 

 fancy articles. Well-seasoned wood forms excellent mallets. 



The leaves, shoots, and seeds possess poisonous properties ^ 

 and plants should be kept from cattle. The active principle 

 appears to be taxine, although other alkaloids are said to be 

 present in both fresh and partly withered shoots ; indeed, the latter 

 are considered to be more virulent in their action than the fresh 

 foliage. There is still, however, a good deal to be learned about 

 yew-poisoning, for in some cases cattle have been known to have 

 had access to yew trees all their lives and have constantly nibbled 

 the shoots without the least injury ; others, however, have eaten 

 branches with fatal results. It has been suggested that the per- 

 centage of poison may vary in male and female trees or in different 

 trees. Prof. Troup ^ says that in Hazara, where T. baccata is 

 plentiful, and particularly in the Siran and Kagan valley, the yew 

 is extensively lopped for cattle fodder, perhaps more so than any 

 other conifer, and trees are frequently killed by repeated lopping. 

 The scarlet aril which surrounds the seed is harmless. 



The yew succeeds in partial shade and also in full sun. Seed- 

 lings germinating beneath the shade of trees grow well, but their 

 habit is usually less dense that that of trees in open places. It 

 thrives in most parts of the country and is very long lived. 

 The theory has often been advanced that a number of the older 

 trees in Britain exceed the age of 1,000 years. We have no 

 direct evidence to prove whether this is actually the case, but it is 

 highly probable, for trees that are known to have been in an 

 advanced state of decay many years ago do not appear to become 

 appreciably worse and bear healthy branches and foliage although 



^ A narrow-leaved Himalayan form has been described as a species, T. Wal- 

 lichiatia, Zuccarini, but is doubtfully distinct. 

 2 Long, Plants Poisonous to Stock. 

 ^Silviculture of Indian Trees, iii, 1171 (1921), 



