The Yew Family (Taxacea)
	Family Description	The members of the Yew Family are trees and shrubs. The leaves are narrow and arranged in a spiral. This family group is quite small, with just 20 different members. In Britain, you can often find the evergreen Yew.
	Yew Taxus baccata	This evergreen grows as a tree or bush. Huge, very old Yews are often found growing in churchyards, having been planted ages ago, to represent everlasting life. It is found in Europe and North Africa.
	Habitat	Woods, hedgerows, churchyards. Prefers well-drained chalk and limestone soils.
	Special features	Yews can live to be hundreds of years old. Reddish-brown flaking bark. Wide, spreading crown. Shiny dark green pointed leaves. Poisonous leaves and seeds.
	Reproduction	The flowers are green. The male flowers grow in tiny cones. The male flowers grow on separate trees to the female flowers. These plants develop a red berry-like flesh surrounding the seed.
	Distribution	Seasonal Flowers develop in February, March and April. Geographical Throughout Britain, except the far north.
	Folklore	Yew trees were often planted beside people's houses and farms, to give protection from the wind, as well as magical protection.
	Fun Fact	Yew is one of just 3 conifers native to Britain, the others being Scots Pine and Juniper. However, Yew is a coneless conifer!