The Yew Family 



155 



I. THE YEWS 

 Genus Taxus 



This is the genus which has been taken as the type of the 

 family and has all the characteristics mentioned as belonging 

 to it. The seed is nutlike, and is not attached to the red, 

 fleshy, cup-shaped disk in which it is embedded. 



The yew trees of literature and history belong to this genus. 

 Their dark evergreen foliage, small size, and length of life have 

 made them at all times favorites for ornamental planting. The 

 slowness of their growth makes them keep their shape when 

 trimmed and adds to their value as ornamental trees or shrubs. 

 The wood is strong, hard and very elastic, which made it very 

 valuable in early times for bows. The famous long bow of the 

 English archers was made from the wood of the European species, 

 taxus baccata. The wood is also highly esteemed for making 

 furniture and ornamental objects. 



i. WESTERN YEW. Taxus brevifolia. Nuttall. 



This is a small but beautiful evergreen tree found growing 

 singly or in small clumps through the conifer forests of the coast 

 region of British Columbia. Its trunk 

 is straight but often marked by irregular 

 ridges, and covered by thin, dark, red- 

 dish-purple bark, which is usually much 

 brighter in color beneath the surface. 

 The branches are long, slender and often 

 drooping. The fleshy cup surrounding 

 the seed is brownish-red and almost 

 globular. 



The wood is light red, hard and brittle, 

 but very elastic. It is very durable, takes 

 a good polish and is used for making 

 fancy articles and paddles. When plentiful it is used even for 



FIG. 24. Western Yew. 



