Canadian yew, Ground hemlock
Taxus canadensis
Family: Taxaceae
What it is like
A shrub with many stems. It is straggling. It grows to 2 m high. It does not have a trunk. The stems trail in the layers of humus. They have tips which turn upwards. The needles are single and pale green. The fruit are small and grow amongst the leaves. They are red and fleshy and 8 mm long.
There are about 6 Taxus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
CAUTION: The seeds are poisonous and tea from the leaves is poisonous. The fruit are fermented with water and maple water to make a beer. The ripe fruit can be eaten fresh, but not the seed.
Edible parts
Fruit, caution, twigs - tea