Taxus brevifolia

Nuttall

N. Amer. Sylv. 3: 86, plate 108. 1849.

Common names: Pacific yew
Endemic
Synonyms: Taxus baccata subsp. brevifolia (Nuttall) Pilger Taxus baccata var. brevifolia (Nuttall) Koehne Taxus baccata var. canadensis Bentham Taxus bourcieri Taxus lindleyana
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Shrubs or small trees to 15 (–25) m, dioecious; trunk to 6 (–12) dm diam., straight to contorted, fluted; crown open-conical. Bark scaly, outer scales purplish to purplish brown, inner ones reddish to reddish purple. Branches horizontal to drooping. Leaves 1–2.9 cm × 1–3 mm, pale green abaxially, cuticular papillae present along stomatal bands, shiny yellow-green adaxially, epidermal-cells as viewed in cross-section of leaf mostly taller than wide. Seed ovoid, 2–4-angled, 5–6.5 mm.


Phenology: Seeds maturing late summer–fall.
Habitat: Open to dense forests, along streams, moist flats, slopes, deep ravines, and coves
Elevation: 0–2200 m

Distribution

V2 809-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

The name Taxus baccata Hooker has been misapplied to this species.

The leaves of Taxus brevifolia are usually somewhat falcate.

The wood of Taxus brevifolia is hard and durable, yet easily worked, making it popular for construction of novelty items by local woodworkers. Because of this, large trees are unscrupulously poached; in some areas the species has been nearly extirpated. The bark of the tree is a promising natural source of taxol, a drug for treating various cancers; exploitation of the species for medicinal purposes is further threatening it.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Taxus brevifolia"
not sharp +, mucronate +  and soft-pointed +
mucilaginous +
scarlet;orange-scarlet +
cup-shaped +
leathery +, fleshy +  and juicy +
Matthew H. Hils +
Nuttall +
reddish-brown +
fissured +
inconspicuous +
horizontal;drooping +
inconspicuous +
Pacific yew +
open-conical +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Alaska +, Calif. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
0–2200 m +
mostly taller than wide +
Open to dense forests, along streams, moist flats, slopes, deep ravines, and coves +
decurrent +  and ridged +
twisted +  and simple +
pale green +
persisting +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.9 cm29 mm <br />0.029 m <br />) +
decurrent +, linear +  and linear-lanceolate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
purplish;purplish brown +
Seeds maturing late summer–fall. +
N. Amer. Sylv. +
taylor1981a +
fibrous;woody +
2-4-angled +  and ovoid +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.65 cm6.5 mm <br />0.0065 m <br />) +
Taxus baccata subsp. brevifolia +, Taxus baccata var. brevifolia +, Taxus baccata var. canadensis +, Taxus bourcieri +  and Taxus lindleyana +
Taxus brevifolia +
species +
straight +
reddish-brown +, yellow-green +  and green +
1,500 cm15,000 mm <br />15 m <br /> (2,500 cm25,000 mm <br />25 m <br />) +
tree +  and shrub +