Yew

Yew is a common name given to various species of trees.

The name is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus Taxus:

  • European Yew or Common Yew (Taxus baccata)
  • Pacific Yew or Western Yew (Taxus brevifolia)
  • Canadian Yew (Taxus canadensis)
  • Chinese Yew (Taxus chinensis)
  • Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)
  • Florida Yew (Taxus floridana)
  • Mexican Yew (Taxus globosa)
  • Sumatran Yew (Taxus sumatrana)
  • Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana)

The name also is used for any of various coniferous plants in the families Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae:

  • White-berry Yew (Pseudotaxus chienii)
  • New Caledonian Yew or Southern Yew (Austrotaxus spicata)
  • Catkin-yew (Amentotaxus sp.)
  • Plum-yew (Cephalotaxus sp.)

Various coniferous plants in the family Podocarpaceae, which are superficially similar to other yews, are also known by this name:

  • Prince Albert's Yew (Saxegothaea conspicua)
  • Plum-yew (Prumnopitys sp.)
This article includes a list of related items that share the same name (or similar names).
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Famous quotes containing the word yew:

    Reptilian green the wrinkled throat,
    Green as a bough of yew the beard;
    He bent his head, and so I smote;
    Yvor Winters (1900–1968)

    My silks and fine array,
    My smiles and languish’d air,
    By Love are driv’n away;
    And mournful lean Despair
    Brings me yew to deck my grave:
    Such end true lovers have.
    William Blake (1757–1827)