Species Focus - Yew (Taxum baccata)

One of only three species of conifer native to the British Isles, Yew is a familiar, dioecious evergreen tree or shrub naturally found on well-drained calcareous soils, though it is tolerant of a wide range of soils so long as they are not waterlogged. Here in North Wales it is locally common over limestone e.g. the Creuddyn Peninsula around Llandudno, occasionally as a significant canopy-forming species but more commonly as a component of the shrub layer beneath Ash, being shade tolerant. It is also found in open, often exposed habitats, especially near the coast e.g. South Stack, Anglesey and the seaward edge of stabilised dunes at Newborough, as well as crags inland.

As a widely introduced species it is commonplace in churchyards, parks and gardens from where it readily spreads by seeds which are distributed long distances by foraging members of the Thrush family. As a result, on Anglesey for example, self-sown plants from introduced horticultural and historic sources are now widespread, covering over 100 monads out of an island total of 800. Whether or not there are any truly native Yew on Anglesey is debatable. Griffith (1895) regarded it as rare on the island and only lists anthropogenic sites.

Yew is probably the longest-lived species in the British Flora, living up to 2000 years old. It is also one of the species with the longest association with humankind, steeped in folklore and mythology dating back to the Druids. Its association with sites of worship reflects a strong symbolism with both life and death.

All sightings will help shed light on the origins and dynamics of Yew in our area. It is easily identified when in fruit, the female trees laden with deep red succulent, berry-like, modified cones during the winter months. The leaves are 2-3cm in length, coriaceous, slim and parallel-sided, acute-tipped and with no aroma (unlike many conifer species.) Male trees liberate clouds of yellow pollen in late Winter/early Spring from tiny grape-like structures towards the tips of young shoots. Note that all parts of Yew, except the fleshy layer (aril) around the Yew berry are toxic. Please submit your records, preferably with photos, using the Cofnod ORS or the LERC Wales app.