Botanische Merkmale: Nadeln flach, tannenähnlich, aber dunkelgrün, unterseits ohne Wachsstreifen, ohne rundliche Nadel-kissen, nicht harzig duftend; giftig; roter Arillus (Samenmantel): süß, ungiftig!; steile, frische schattige Hänge in subozeanischen montanen Waldgesellschaften; langsamwüchsiges Nutzholz, auch als Zierbaum kultiviert.
Blütezeit: Mai
Sammelgut: Nadeln, Früchte ohne Kerne
Heilwirkung: krebshemmend, herzwirksam
Mythologie: 'Yew trees are associated with churchyards and there are at least 500 churchyards in England which contain yew trees older than the buildings themselves. It is not clear why, but it is thought that yew trees were planted on the graves of plague victims to protect and purify the dead, and also in churchyards to stop 'commoners' from grazing their cattle on church ground as yew is extremely poisonous to livestock.
Yew trees were used as symbols of immortality, but also seen as omens of doom. For many centuries it was the custom for yew branches to be carried on Palm Sunday and at funerals. In Ireland it was said that yew was ‘the coffin of the vine’, as wine barrels were made of yew staves.'
