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Taxus baccata (Taxaceae)

Specimens of this species hardly ever reach a large size, which is exactly why the English Yew in Val Cellina is so special. This tree reaches a maximum circumference of 25.26 ft m and is over 500 years old. The yew is located within the magnificent Medòl wood, among beeches, hornbeams and elm trees and is located in the basin of the Prescudin Stream.

The surrounding environment is very cool and shady, ideal for yews, therefore this special tree captures the little light that filters through the leaves of the beeches and grows slowly and undisturbed.

How to get there:

From the village of Barcis (PN), travel across Val Cellina and then take the lateral Val Prescudin, then Val del Tasseit, until you reach Bosco Medòl.

Botanical Card:

This species is usually found as a polycormic evergreen shrub. It is most abundant in Europe and Asia, but it also grows in some parts of North Africa.

Yews grow along the temperate mountain belt where winters are snowy, but not too cold, while summers are usually warm. It’s a sciophilous species that thrives in shade, prefers calcareous soils and never grows alone in a forest, as it’s usually found among beeches, maples and conifers at heights between 984ft and 5.250 ft.

This species is toxic, as seeds and leaves contain taxine, an extremely poisonous alkaloid.
Only fruits and fleshy arils are edible and highly appreciated by birds.

Due to its toxicity and difficulty of dosage, any potential pharmaceutical use would not be feasible.

The wood is used for cabinetry, thanks to its acclaimed features: elasticity, toughness, heaviness and hardness.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)