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Commo yew (Taxus baccata) (Folklore names (Jahupuu, Kodarapuu, Juhapuu,…
Commo yew (Taxus baccata)
Growth conditions.
Yew tolerates most soils including those containing chalk. It is, however, sensitive to soil compaction and waterlogged growing conditions. Once established yew will even grow in dry soil and shade and can grow more quickly than anticipated.
They just don't like to be in wet, soggy ground.
Prefers oceanic climate.
Roots
Deep-rooting, fine and dense root systems
Growth characteristics
Up to 10 m, rarely up to 20 m.
Very long-living plant. Growing 2000 to 4000 years old.
Trunk and branches
Trunk up to 2 metres in diameter
Wood characteristics
Yew timber is rich orange-brown in colour, closely grained and incredibly strong and durable (hence why old trees can remain standing with hollow trunks).
Leaf
Needle,up to 3 cm, black-green, shiny, arranged distichous.
Needles flat, arranged spirally but appearing 2-ranked.
Commercial value
Wood
3 700 and 4000 euros per m³
Plant
6-50 euros per plant.
Flower and fruit characteristics
Unlike many other conifers, the common yew does not actually bear its seeds in a cone. Instead, each seed is enclosed in a red, fleshy, berry-like structure known as an aril which is open at the tip.
Yew is dioecious
Male flowers are insignificant white-yellow globe-like structures. Female flowers are bud-like and scaly, and green when young but becoming brown and acorn-like with age.
Folklore names
Jahupuu
Kodarapuu
Juhapuu
Taksus
Toxicity
All parts of a yew plant are toxic to humans, due to taxine alkaloids, with the exception of the yew berries (however, their seeds are toxic).
Fatal poisoning is uncommon in humans though unless excess volumes of foliage are consumed!
Tree crown shape characteristics
Crown normally pyramidal, becoming irregular with age
Bark thin, scaly, brown.
Pests and diseases
Yews are typically very hardy plants, and are not susceptible to many diseases.
Yews are quite sensitive to deicing salts used on roadways and sidewalks.
Winter damage also can affect yews.
Fact
The Romans believed yew grew in hell, the Norse and Celt peoples thought it protected against bewitchment and death and it's often seen in churchyards as Christians believed its poison protected the dead.
More recently a chemical found in yew, called taxol, has been found to have anti-cancer effects. They have since been synthesised and are now being used in the treatment of breast, ovarian and lung cancers.
Estonia
Category II, protected plant in Estonia.
Risk of extinction.
