Two yews are commonly cultivated: T. cuspidata (Japanese Yew, Spreading Yew) and T. baccata (English Yew, Common Yew), as well as a hybrid between the two.
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| Taxus sp. [8] |
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| [1] T. baccata |
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| [1] T. cuspidata |
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| [4] Typical fruit |
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| [1] T. baccata |
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| [1] T. cuspidata |
Notes:
While yews are not often found naturalized in Michigan, birds do frequently utilize cultivated shrubs, including small birds that struggle but eagerly consume the large fruit (arils). A native yew, T. canadensis, is a lower-growing shrub with more flattened leaves growing in a single plane; aril is similar.
Fruit ripening dates: August through October
Seed dispersal dates: August through October
Seeds present in fecal samples in birds found at the Rouge River Bird Observatory, Dearborn, MI.
References:
- Species profiles at USDA Plants Database: T. baccata, T. cuspidata
- Michigan Flora online species profile of T. cuspidata.
- University of Connecticut Plant Database species profile
(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)
