Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia
Family: Taxaceae
What it is like
A small tree or shrub. It can grow to 20 m high. The crown is cone shaped. The young bark is smooth. The mature bark is fluted. The branches are irregular and spread. They are flat or slightly drooping. The needles are single and 13-25 mm long. They are dark yellowish-green above and pale below. The buds scales are keeled and loose. The seed has a fleshy aril or seed layer around it. This is red.
There are about 6 Taxus species.
Where it is found
It grows from sea level to 2,200 m altitude in forests in north America.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, 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 only eaten singly.
Edible parts
Fruit