Taxus baccata Yew (Taxaceae) Evergreen tree

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Taxus baccata
Yew
Evergreen tree
(1 Page of 5)

The Taxus baccata plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Taxaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Yew.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
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Latin Name:  Taxus baccata
Common Name:  Yew
Family:  Taxaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  All parts of the plant, except the flesh of the fruit, are highly poisonous, having a paralyzing affect on the heart[1, 4, 7, 10, 19, 65].

Mature Height:  15   Mature Width:  10

Habitat:  Woods and scrub, usually on limestone. It sometimes forms pure stands in sheltered sites on chalk in the southeast and on limestone in the northwest[17].

Medicinal Information: The yew tree is a highly toxic plant that has occasionally been used medicinally, mainly in the treatment of chest complaints. Modern research has shown that the plants contain the substance 'taxol' in their shoots. Taxol has shown exciting potential as an anti-cancer drug, particularly in the treatment of ovarian cancers[238]. Unfortunately, the concentrations of taxol in this species are too low to be of much value commercially, though it is being used for research purposes[238]. This remedy should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[21]. See also the notes above on toxicity. All parts of the plant, except the fleshy fruit, are antispasmodic, cardiotonic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, narcotic and purgative[7, 21]. The leaves have been used internally in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, hiccough, indigestion, rheumatism and epilepsy[240, 257]. Externally, the leaves have been used in a steam bath as a treatment for rheumatism[257]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the young shoots and the berries[4]. It is used in the treatment of many diseases including cystitis, eruptions, headaches, heart and kidney problems, rheumatism etc[4].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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