CLASS XXII, ORDER VIII. ] TAXUS. 1295 
to eight celled, the cells opening beneath. Fertile flowers, with 
a concave sessile stigma. Fruit a succulent drupe, gaping at the 
apex. Nut single seeded—-Name, toZov, an arrow ; which word, 
according to Vossius, was given to this tree, because arrows were 
formerly poisoned with its juice. 
1. T. bacca'ta, Linn, (Fig. 1556.) Common Yew. T.eaves two, 
ranked, crowded, linear, acute, flat; flowers axillary, sessile. 
English Botany, t. 746.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 253 —Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol i. p. 8378.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 241. 
A low tree, with a straight trunk, often of considerable diameter, 
and variously furrowed, with deep longitudinal channels, the bark 
smooth, falling off in long scales, the branches spreading horizontally, 
when young green, smooth, furrowed. Leaves crowded, more or less 
two ranked, linear, acute, about an inch long, dark green above, and 
shining, somewhat paler beneath, quite smooth, with a prominent 
mid-+tib. Flowers axillary, solitary, the barren ones pale brown, and 
scaly at the base. Stamens numerous, large, furnished with abun 
dant pollen, fertile flowers small, green, scaly at the base, becoming 
enlarged, tumid and succulent. Style none. Stigma obtuse. Fruié 
a nut, enclosed in a succulent cup, formed of the enlarged calyx, a 
bright scarlet, soft, sweet, and giutinous 
Habitat—Mountain woods, especially in limestone districts 
Tree; flowering in March. 
The Ivish or Florence Court Yew, a tree not uncommon in our 
gardens, has the /eaves more scattered, and the fruit oblong. It may 
be a distinct species, and is the Z. fastigiata of Lindley’s Synopsis ; 
but if a species it “is not wild in Britain,” according to Sir W. J. 
Hooker. 
The Yew is a native of the mountainous districts of all parts of 
Europe, North America, and in Japan. It lives for a very long 
period, and attains an enormous size: one in Braburn Church yard, 
in Kent, measured about twenty feet in diameter. The Cowhurst 
Yew, near Hastings, is more than thirty feet in cireumference ; but 
the Fortingal Yew, in the Church-yard at the entrance of Glen Lyon, 
in Perthshire, when seen by Pennant measured fifty-six and a half 
feet in circumference, or about eighteen feet in diameter: it was then 
a mere shell, but was alive and flourishing. Many other trees might 
be mentioned, showing to what an enormous size the Yew grows; 
one called the Hedsor Yew, growing in the woods of Cliefden, mea- 
sures twenty-seven feet in diameter, or about eighty-one feet in girth. 
This enormous tree is still in health and flourishing. 
The wood of the Yew is hard, heavy, and extremely durable, of a 
red colour, prettily veined, and smooth, and consequently much 
esteemed by turners and cabinet-makers, and carvers in wood. 
Many of the beautiful and useful articles made in Switzerland are of 
