Taxaceae
Published on Nov 20, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
TAXONOMY
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Pinophyta
- Class: Pinopsida
- Order: Pinales
- Family: Taxaceae
Photo by dodger regdod
DESCRIPTION
EVERGREEN, SHRUBS, TREES, RED FRUIT
Not resinous or aromatic
Bark is fissured (scaly)
Lateral branches not covered by dense leaves
Short internodes
Fibrous/woody roots
Alternating, Needle leaves that shed singly
Pollen cones that mature in 1-2 seasons and shed annually
1 seed per cone
Seed has hard coat that is surrounded by fleshy aril
Bark is fissured (scaly)
Lateral branches not covered by dense leaves
Short internodes
Fibrous/woody roots
Alternating, Needle leaves that shed singly
Pollen cones that mature in 1-2 seasons and shed annually
1 seed per cone
Seed has hard coat that is surrounded by fleshy aril
Photo by Henry Hemming
DISTRIBUTION
Most genera found in Northern Hemisphere
Mainly native to North America
Some ancestral distribution from southwest or southeast China
Europe: Britain to N. Iran
Asia: USSR, Korea, Japan,China, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, Philippines
North America: U.S., Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala
Mainly native to North America
Some ancestral distribution from southwest or southeast China
Europe: Britain to N. Iran
Asia: USSR, Korea, Japan,China, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, Philippines
North America: U.S., Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala
6 GENERA, 30 SPECIES
- Taxus- yew
- Torreya- stinking yew, California nutmeg
- Amentotaxus & Austrotaxus
- Psuedotaxus
- Cephalotaxus
Conifer-like branches and red or green berry-like fruits. Trees or shrubs make up all species of the Yew Family.
One extinct species: Kakahuia from Eocene and early Miocene of southern New Zealand
Taxus-yew:
T. baccata. Oldest and biggest tree
T. brevifolia
T. canadensis
T. cuspidata
T. floridana
T. globosa
T. sumatrana
One extinct species: Kakahuia from Eocene and early Miocene of southern New Zealand
Taxus-yew:
T. baccata. Oldest and biggest tree
T. brevifolia
T. canadensis
T. cuspidata
T. floridana
T. globosa
T. sumatrana
Photo by Airwolfhound
TAXUS- YEW
- Greek: Toxikon (poison)
- Paleobotany: Triassic & mid Jurassic
- High resistence to urban air
- Ornamentals
- Medicinals
Photo by ClifB
YEW
ORNAMENTALS
Traditional ornamentals are from the conifers
Yews look similar plus they have red berries which is even more decorative
They are NOT. Mistletoe. Mistletoe has white berries and is a parasite not a tree or bush like yews.
Religion:
Often found in European Churchyards
Big, old trees were used often in Normandy as the chapels were built into the hallow tree trunks
Exceptionally large trees reach over 5m in diameter and are 2,000 yrs old.
Planted at temples, abbeys or buried with dead. Longevity of tree is thought to represent eternal life.
Yews look similar plus they have red berries which is even more decorative
They are NOT. Mistletoe. Mistletoe has white berries and is a parasite not a tree or bush like yews.
Religion:
Often found in European Churchyards
Big, old trees were used often in Normandy as the chapels were built into the hallow tree trunks
Exceptionally large trees reach over 5m in diameter and are 2,000 yrs old.
Planted at temples, abbeys or buried with dead. Longevity of tree is thought to represent eternal life.
Photo by Justin in SD
Untitled Slide
Photo by MarilynJane
Untitled Slide
Photo by 1967geezer
YEW IN MEDICINE
- Poisonous alkaloids
- Expectorant and purgative
- Increases blood pressure
- Cancer treatment (Taxol)
- Derived from bark of the tree
Photo by *Psycho Delia*
