Taxus baccata
If (commun)
(Common) Yew
Gemeine Eibe
Franséische Pällem
Si

Size:
The common yew is an evergreen conifer that can grow up to 15 m tall. It usually grows with several stems. There are wild specimens, for example in the Alps, which are estimated to be over 1000 years old.

Leaf: 
The needles are shiny dark green on top. On the grey-green of the underside two light stomata can be seen.

Flower/Fruit: 
There are male yew trees with stamens and female specimens with very inconspicuous and tiny flowers on the underside of the twig (dioecious). The fruits consist of a greenish seed, which is surrounded by a red, fleshy fruit cup.

Wood: 
The wood of the yew is resin-free, extremely tough and very elastic. That is why it was mainly used in the past for making bows and crossbows. But it is also suitable for furniture and household appliances.

Trivia/Use: 
The entire plant, except for the red seed coat, is poisonous! Birds that eat the fruit because of the red pulp excrete the seed undigested but capable of germinating. The yew is extremely tolerant of pruning, which is why the wild form and other garden forms are often used as topiary and for pruning hedges.