A genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, Taxus, with a fruit containing a single seed surrounded by a scarlet, fleshy, cuplike envelope (aril). The leaves are flat and acicular (needle-shaped), green below, with stalks extending downward on the stem. The only native American species of commercial importance is the Pacific yew (T. breuifolia), a medium-sized tree of the Pacific Coast and northern Rocky Mountain regions. Although it is not a common tree, its wood is sometimes used for poles, paddles, bows, and small cabinetwork. The English yew (T. baccata), native in Europe, North Africa, and northern Asia, and the Japanese yew (T. cuspidate) are much cultivated in the United States as evergreen ornamentals. |
