Taxus cuspidata — Japanese yew

Characteristics

• Fruits or seeds

  Seed cone base

  NA

  Seed cone bracts

  the bracts are covered by the seed cone scales

  Seed cone form

  the seed cone is formed from a solitary seed surrounded by a red aril

  Seed cone scales

  NA

  Seed cone shape

  • the seed cone is ellipsoid (oval, tapering to rounded ends)
  • the seed cone is globose (spherical)

  Seed cone symmetry

  the seed cone is symmetrical

  Seed cone umbo position

  NA

  Seed cone umbo spine

  NA

  Seed wings

  there are no wings on the seeds

• Growth form

  Growth form

  the plant is a tree

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  there is one needle-like leaf per node

  Leaf base

  NA

  Leaf clustering

  the needle-like leaves are single, with one per node

  Leaf cross-section

  the needle-like leaves are flattened (can't be rolled between the fingers)

  Leaf duration

  the needle-like leaves remain green all winter

  Leaf form

  the leaves are needle-like

  Leaf glands

  there are no glands on the underside of the needle-like leaves

  Leaf stalks

  the needle-like leaves have a small leaf stalk

  Leaf types

  there is only one type of needle-like leaf on the twig

  Leaves overlapping

  the needle-like leaves are separate and do not hide the twig surface

• Place

  Habitat

  terrestrial

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • edges of forests
  • man-made or disturbed habitats
  • shrublands or thickets

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Bark resin blisters

  there are no resin blisters on the bark

  Leaves on shoots

  the needle-like leaves do not grow in tight clusters on a short, knob-like shoot

  Twig bloom

  there is no bloom on the twig

  Twig hair type

  the twigs have few or no hairs on them

  Twig hairs

  the twig does not have hairs

  Twig winter color

  • brown
  • red

Wetland status

Not classified

In New England

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key