Yew
Yew
Yew (/juː/), scientifically known as Taxus, is a genus of coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 2.5–20 meters, with trunk diameters up to 4 meters.
Etymology
The word "yew" is derived from Proto-Germanic *īwa- and possibly related to the Greek word ἰός, which means "poison". It is possibly related to the Celtic word Ivo, meaning "tree".
Description
Yews are evergreen trees or shrubs that are known for their dark green foliage and red berry-like fruits. The leaves are lanceolate, flat, dark green, arranged spirally on the stem, but with the leaf bases twisted to align the leaves in two flat rows either side of the stem. The seed cones are highly modified, each cone containing a single seed, which is surrounded by a modified scale which develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an aril.
Medical Uses
Yew trees have been used in the production of drugs to fight cancer. The bark of the Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) and other yew trees contains taxanes such as paclitaxel, which is used in the treatment of various types of cancer.
Related Terms
- Taxus: The genus of yew trees.
- Taxaceae: The family of yew trees.
- Aril: A specialized outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed.
- Paclitaxel: A chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancer, derived from the bark of the Pacific Yew.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Yew
- Wikipedia's article - Yew
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