Pacific yew Taxaceae Taxus brevifolia

Leaf:Evergreen needles, single, spirally arranged (although they appear 2-ranked), 1 inch long, yellow-green to dark green above and paler below (but without bloom); apex pointed but not sharp; each needle has a distinct petiole that parallels the twig for a short distance.
Flower:Species is dioecious; male flowers are small, round, and yellow and are borne on the undersides of the leaves; female flowers are solitary.
Fruit:A round, fleshy, orange-red aril about 1/4 inch long containing one hard seed, exposed at the end.
Twig:Round, slender, and remaining green for many years; relatively few lateral branches.
Bark:Always thin (about 1/4 inch), reddish brown, and scaly; inner bark is reddish purple.
Form:Small evergreen understory tree with indistinct growth form. Can reach 50 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter, but usually much smaller. Trunks are usually fluted and asymmetrical. Very slow growing but can reach a very old age.

leaf flower fruit twig bark form map

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