Pacific yew Taxaceae Taxus brevifolia Nutt. Listen to the Latin   symbol: TABR2
Other Fact Sheets
Leaf: Evergreen needles, single, spirally arranged (although they appear 2-ranked), 1 inch long, yellow-green to dark green above and paler below (but without bloom); apex pointed but not sharp; each needle has a distinct petiole that parallels the twig for a short distance.
Flower: Dioecious; male flowers are small, round, and yellow and are borne on the undersides of the leaves; female flowers are solitary.

Fruit: A round, fleshy, orange-red aril about 1/4 inch long containing one hard seed, exposed at the end.

Twig: Round, slender, and remaining green for many years; relatively few lateral branches.

Bark: Always thin (about 1/4 inch), reddish brown, and scaly; inner bark is reddish purple.

Form: Small evergreen understory tree with indistinct growth form. Can reach 50 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter, but usually much smaller. Trunks are usually fluted and asymmetrical. Very slow growing but can reach a very old age.
 
USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS Additional Silvics - USDA Plants Database
Taxus brevifolia is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting Pacific yew (opens a new window).

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