126 TAXUS BACCATA. 



Taxus baccata. 



A medium-sized or low tree very variable in habit and dimensions, 

 attaining a height of 30 50 or more feet according to situation 

 and environment.* Trunk straight, erect, and when the tree is isolated, 

 sending out numerous spreading branches at a short distance from the 

 ground, but when crowded with other trees often free of branches for 

 20 25 or more feet of its height ; the trunk is then more or less 

 lobed or has broad, rounded, longitudinal ridges. Usually, whether 

 solitary or associated with other trees, the trunk divides at a few feet 

 from the ground into two five or even more secondary trunks which 

 frequently divide in like manner at a greater or less distance from their 

 base. Bark roughish, peeling off in longitudinal shreds or small flakes 

 exposing a smooth reddish brown inner cortex ; in old trees very rugged 

 and irregularly fissured. Primary branches irregularly disposed and 

 often of very unequal development, spreading for the most part 

 horizontally and ramified laterally. Branchlets distichous, opposite or 

 alternate, covered with reddish brown smooth bark. Buds small, globose, 

 dark chestnut-brown, the terminal ones closely sheathed by young foliage 

 leaves. Leaves persistent three four years, sub-spirally anting* -d 

 around their axis, spreading from all sides on erect shoots, bifarious on 

 horizontal branchlets, linear or linear falcate, acute, 0*75 1*25 inch 

 long, dark lustrous green above, paler with a thickened midrib beneath. 

 Flowers and fruit as described above. 



Taxus baccata, Linnsens, Sp. Plant, ed. I. Vol. II. 1040 (1753). L. C. Richard, Mem. 

 sui- les Couif. 19 (1826). London, Arb. et Frut. Brit. IV. 2066, with tigs. (1838). 

 Eudlicher, Synops. Conif. 242. Carriers, Traite Conif. ed. I. 517 ; and ed. II. 730. 

 Hoopas, Evergreens, 376. Parlatore, O. C. Prodr. XVI. 500. Sowerby, Eng. Bot. 

 VIII. 277, t. 884. Brandis, Forest Fl. Ind. 539. Gordon, Pinet. ed. II. 338. 

 Willkomm, Forstl. Fl. ed. II. 270. Boissier, Fl. orient. V. 711. Hooker til, Fl. 

 Brit. Islands, ed. III. 380 ; and Fl. Brit. Ind. V. 648. Beissner, Nadelholzk. 166, 

 with tigs. Masters in Journ. R. Hort. Soc. XIV. 249. And many others. 



Eng. Yew. Old Eng. En, Ew, Eugh, Yeugh, Yewe and others. Fr. If. Germ. Elbe, 

 Eibenbanm. Ital. Tasso. Span. Tejo, Texo. Gr. raoc, , jU/Xot;. Mod. Gr. 



var. adpressa. 



A low tree or shrub rarely exceeding 12 feet high with long spreading 

 branches much and irregularly ramified; branchlets short, spreading or 

 ascending. Leaves shorter than in the common form, narrowly ovate- 

 oblong, obtuse, about 0'5 inch long, bifarious in two ranks, slightly 

 inclined upwards and forwards. Aril of fruit usually shorter than the 

 seed, adpressa Stricta has the branches erect or more or less ascending; 

 adpressa variegata has the tips of many of the branchlets cream-white. 



T. baccata adpressa, Carriere, Traite Conif. ed. I. 520 ; ed. II. 731. T. adpressa, 

 Gordon, Pinet. ed. II. 387. T. tardiva, Parlatore, D. C. Prodr. XVI. 502 (in part). 



var. aurea. 



A dense shrub or low tree with bright golden yellow leaves, the colour 

 most developed at the tips and margins, aurea elegantissima has the 

 leaves striped with straw-yellow and sometimes whitish. 



T. baccata anrea, Carriere, Traite Conif. ed. II. 734. T. baccata Elvastonensis, 

 Beissner, Nadelholzk. 176. 



* In the Himalaya 100 feet high and 15 feet in girth. Brandis. 



