Yew is an evergreen tree, up to 32 m high. Its treetop is thick and oval, its leaves are dark green and shiny above; beneath they are matte and milky green. The plant grows very slowly; therefore, it can reach an age of about 4000 years. Yew is also cultivated as a decorative plant in many countries. 

In fact, all parts of the plant are poisonous which is due mostly to the alkaloid taxin. Gaius Plinius Secundus reported poisonings caused by the usage of yew utensils.

Taxus baccata

Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, increased salivation, stomachache, diarrhea, sleepiness, shortage of breath, trembling, spasms, malfunction of the cardiovascular system which leads to collapse and death. Yew’s toxins do not have any application in medicine because of the great danger of poisoning.
 

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