Common yew

Taxus baccata is a species of coniferous tree in the family Taxaceae. It is the tree originally known as yew, though to distinguish it from related species it is sometimes called common yew, European yew, or, in North America, English yew. It is a woodland tree in its native range, which spans much of Europe and parts of West Asia, the Caucasus and Northwest Africa. All parts of the plant except the fleshy aril are poisonous, with toxins that can be absorbed through inhalation, ingestion, and transpiration through the skin.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it poisonous?

Considered toxic. Public sources list it as such; we have not verified this individually. Nearly all parts contain toxic taxanes (except the red, fleshy, and slightly sweet aril surrounding the toxic seeds). The seeds themselves are particularly toxic if chewed. Several people have committed suicide by… Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

• Taxus cuspidata — toxic
• Taxus globosa — toxic
• Taxus mairei — toxic
• Torreya nucifera
• Taxus brevifolia — toxic

Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Pinopsida

Order

Pinales

Family

Taxaceae

Genus

Taxus

Species

Taxus baccata

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