The Yew

(Published in Take Root magazine, Winter 2020)

The Pacific Yew is a quiet, understated tree. In fact, it is considered an “understory” tree. It doesn’t get that tall and is beneath what are called “overstory” trees (the tall ones). Maybe you are reading the recent novel about trees, The Overstory, by Richard Powers. 

Throughout history the yew has been used as a weapon in wars, a weapon against cancer, as fence posts, canoe paddles, and carved into musical instruments.

The tree is sometimes referred to as a killer and a healer. The berries, bark, and leaves are poisonous. Part of its protection is something it makes called taxol, to  defend against insects and disease. In the 1960s scientists learned that taxol is effective at fighting cancer. The Pacific Yew was the first of its species to be discovered as having this ingredient. Since this discovery, taxol has significantly impacted cancer  treatment. 

All 11 species of yew trees have been found to contain taxol. The mechanism of taxol is that it stops cell division. This means it stops the production of cancerous cells. It’s powerful. 

Taxol became a highly-produced pharmaceutical, which started concerns about wiping the trees out because they were not initially harvested in sustainable ways. 

The harvesting of the bark kills the trees, but it is possible to extract taxol from clippings, so harvesting, if properly controlled, can be less detrimental to the tree. Today, they can produce a synthetic version, easing pressure on natural resources.

The Pacific yew has red, peeling bark similar to a madrone tree, and flat needles that look like a combination of a hemlock and grand fir, but shorter. It is a slow growing tree and can take hundreds of years to reach full size. Sometimes they have long branches that droop to the ground. The needles are the darkest green of all conifer trees.  They are not usually taller than 40 feet and can sprout new growth even after sustaining heavy damage. 

Yew trees are either male or female. The female trees have bright red berries (fruit around the seed). The berries are called arils and birds love to eat them. People should not eat the seeds within the berries (or any part of the tree) as they are poisonous. To be on the safe side, don’t nibble, bite, or lick any yew tree, no matter how tempting.

The Pacific yew habitat is from Alaska to central California; western Canada to Idaho.

The wood, which is a rose-red color, is very hard and long-lasting. It makes beautiful crafts and tools. Partly because of its very slow growth, the wood is fine-grained, but flexible, perfect for bow-making. 

In North America, indigenous people prized the yew tree for making bows. The Haida tribe name for the yew tree literally means “bow tree.”  

In Europe, ancient armies also used them for bows, liking them so much, they were nearly wiped out from all the battles that occurred. It was a matter of having the most weapons to win and that fell heavily on the tree to provide the materials. 

Robin Hood most likely used a yew bow. 

The European yew is native to the majority of Europe, as well as parts of Africa and Asia. In Ireland and England, it is often associated with graveyards. The tree is metaphorically linked to both death and rebirth. Some yews in Ireland are estimated to be 2,000 years old; however, we can’t tell their age by counting rings as their trunks become hollow. 

Over the centuries, the European yew has been associated with life, death, transformation, the otherworld, immortality, sorcery, magic, and divination, specifically with runes. It has sometimes been linked to black magic, and yet also to protect against black magic. It has definitely held some sort of spell over humans who have connected it to a wide range of powers. 

Considering all the properties and uses of the yew, maybe the tree is magical? 

Old Yew, which graspest at the stones
That name the under-lying dead,
Thy fibres net the dreamless head,
Thy roots are wrapt about the bones.

~Lord Alfred Tennyson, In Memoriam 2