388 TAXUSj OR 



No. 2. Taxus baccatA, Linnceus, the Common Yew. 

 Syn. Taxus baccata vulgaris, Endlicher. 



Leaves in two rows, crowded, linear, slightly curved, or fal- 

 cate, pointed, flat, entire, and slightly revolute on the margins ; 

 from three quarters of an inch to an inch and a quarter long, 

 and one line and a half broad, of a dark shining green above, 

 much paler below, with a promment mid-rib, terminating in a 

 small point at the apex. Branches spreading, much divided, 

 and dense ; branchlets long, slender, and drooping. Male 

 flowers axillary. Berries rounded, glutinous, drooping, open 

 at the top, and enclosing a brown oval partially naked nut, un- 

 connected with the fleshy disk, which is of a scarlet colour and 

 sweet. Seed-leaves in twos. 



A small tree, or large bush, but when fully grown thirty or 

 forty feet high, with a short stem, and ample spreading head, 

 thickly clothed with branches, densely set with drooping 

 branchlets and sombre-green leaves. 



It is found in most parts of Europe, at elevations of from 

 1000 to 4000 feet, is frequent on the Appenines, the Alps, 

 Greece, Spain, Piedmont, Great Britain, the Pyrenees, the 

 Caucasus, and even in Scandinavia, but is wanting in the 

 Russian empire, except on the mountains of the Crimea and 

 Caucasus. There are numerous varieties, of which the follow- 

 ing are some of the most distinct. 



Taxus baccata AEGENTEA, Loudon, the Silver Variegated 

 Yew. 

 Syn. Taxus baccata, foliis variegatis, Hort. 

 „ „ elegantissima, Hort. 

 „ „ marginata, Hort, 



baccata variegata alba, Carrihe. 



This very handsome variety differs, in having silvery white 

 striped leaves, sometimes changing to straw colour. 



