The Latin name for Yew is Taxus baccata. The Yew is a part of the Taxaceae family and can grow to 20 m tall, and is one of the long lived trees in northern Europe. The leaves are straight, small needles with a pointed tip, there colouring is dark green.

 

Their flowers are dioecious, which means the male and female flowers grow on different trees; they come out in March and April.

 

Identifying male and female flowers:

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Male: Flowers are white/yellow ball shapes.

 

Female: Flowers are bud like and scaly, they are green, then they turn into brown acorns with age. They hold their fruits in enclosed, red, fleshy, berry structures.

 

Usually found in the southern part of England and in beech woodlands. They offer protection for birds because of their dense leaf structure.