Physical Description
The Chinese Yew is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree that can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) tall. It has reddish-brown bark, needle-like leaves, and produces small, red, fleshy seed cones. The tree is slow-growing and has a long lifespan.
Environmental Concerns
The Chinese Yew is endangered due to over-harvesting for its bark, which contains the anti-cancer compound paclitaxel (taxol). Deforestation for agriculture and development also threatens its habitat.
Other Information
The Chinese Yew is important in both traditional medicine and modern pharmaceuticals. Efforts to cultivate the tree and develop synthetic versions of taxol are being pursued to reduce the strain on wild populations.
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