TAXACEA5.

SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA.

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the genus is represented by a shrub 1 of the northern Atlantic region, by a small shrubby tree ofwestern Florida , by a tree of the Pacific region, and by a little known species endemic in Mexico . 2 Thegenus is an ancient one, its fossil remains attesting the fact that Yew-trees have existed since miocenetimes . 3

Taxus produces wood valued in the arts. The leaves and seeds contain taxine, an alkaloid towhich actively poisonous properties are ascribed , 4 and the bark is rich in tannin. Several of thespecies have long been planted for the adornment of parks and gardens.

In North America Taxus is not injured by insects, and has no serious fungal enemies . 5

The different species can be propagated by seeds, and the varieties and abnormal forms multipliedby cuttings.

The generic name, from Td^og, is the classical

Taxus baccata , Thunberg, FI. Jap. 275 (not Linnseus) (1784).

Taxus baccata cuspidata, Carribre, Traile Conif. ed. 2, 733

(1867). — Beissner. Handb. Nadelh. 173.

Taxus cuspidata inhabits Manchuria , Corea, and the island ofYezo, where, although not common, it is widely scattered throughthe forests of deciduous-leaved trees, often rising to a height offifty feet, and forming a tall straight trunk frequently two feet indiameter. The wood, which resembles that of Taxus baccata , isused by the Ainos for their bows, and is also employed in cabinet-making and for the interior decoration of expensive houses. (SeeSargent, Forest FI . Jap. 76.)

Taxus cuspidata is often used to decorate Japanese gardens,where it is frequently cut into fantastic shapes. It was introducedinto the gardens of the eastern United States in 1862 through theagency of the Parsons’ nursery at Flushing , New York , and is per-fectly hardy as far north at least as eastern Massachusetts , grow-ing in cultivation more rapidly than other Yew-trees, and promisingto become a valuable decorative plant in the northern states. Adwarf form of this species with a more compact and upright habitand shorter leaves, of Japanese origin, and now common in Ameri­ can gardens, is evidently a seminal variety, and probably, in partat least, the Taxus tardiva of Parlatore ( De Candolle Prodr. xvi. pt.ii. 502 [1868]).

1 Taxus Canadensis, Marshall, Arbust . Am. 151 (1785). — Will-denow, Spec. iv. pt. ii. 856. — Pursh, FI. Am. Sept. ii. 647. — Bige-low, FI. Boston , ed. 3, 399. — Emerson, Trees Mass . Ill ; ed. 2, i.127. — Darlington, FI. Cestr. ed. 3, 296. — Parlatore, l. c. 501. —Watson & Coulter, Gray’s Man. ed. 6, 494.

Taxus baccata , p minor, Michaux, FI. Bor.-Am. ii. 245 (1803).

Taxus baccata , p , Hooker, FI. Bor.-Am. ii. 167 (in part)

(1839).

Taxus baccata , var. Canadensis, Gray, Man. ed. 2,425 (1856). —

Macoun, Cat . Can. PI. 463.

Taxus minor, Britton, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club, v. 19 (1893).

Taxus Canadensis is a shrub with prostrate wide-spreadingbranches and a stem occasionally one or two feet in height ; it is a

name for the Yew-tree.

common inhabitant of northern woods, often forming under theirdense shade in low rich soil broad masses or sometimes nearly im-penetrable thickets, and is distributed from Newfoundland to thenorthern shores of Lake Superior and to those of Lake Winnipeg,and southward through the northern states to New Jersey andMinnesota .

2 Taxus globosa, Schlechtendal , Linncea, xii. 496 (1838). — End-licher, Syn. Conif. 244. — Lindley & Gordon, Jour. Hort. Soc. Bond.v. 227. — Carribre, l. c. 524. — Parlatore, l. c. — Hemsley, Bot.Biol. Am. Cent. iii. 185.

This south-Mexican species, which is described as a small tree,has not been seen by any of the botanists who have lately visitedMexico , and is very imperfectly known.

3 Saporta, Origine Paleontologi/jue des Arbres, 59. — Zittel, Handb.Palceontolog. ii. 256.

4 No cases of poisoning by Taxus in North America appear to berecorded, and in India domestic animals are said to browse uponTaxus baccata without experiencing any bad effects (Brandis, For­ est FI . Brit. Ind. 541). On the other hand, Taxus has been creditedin Europe with toxic properties since the time of the Greeks, andnumerous instances are cited of fatal results following the medi-cinal use of the leaves, and of the death of animals fed upon them.Other cases, however, are reported of animals, gradually accus-tomed to a diet of Yew, being nourished on the branches withoutbad effects. The sweet pulpy covering of the seed is palatable tomost people, and is not poisonous, although often believed to be so,and flonr made from the seeds is used to fatten poultry. (SeeLoudon, Arb. Brit. iv. 2089. — Marmd, Liebig’s Annalen, cxxv.71. — Redwood, Pharm. Jour. Trans, ser. 3, viii. 36. Amato &Capparelli, Gazzetta di Chimica, x. 349. —Johnson, Man. Med. Bot.A T . Am. 262. — Cornevin, Plantes Veneneuses, 43. — Pharmacogra-phia Indica, vi. 373. — Hilger & Brande, Berichte der deutsch. Chem.Gesell. xxiii. 464. — U. S. Dispens. ed. 16, 1933.)

3 Leptosphatria taxicola, Saccardo, and Diplodea Taxi, De Notaris,two minute fungi, have been noticed on Taxus Canadensis.

CONSPECTUS OF THE ARBORESCENT SPECIES OF THE UNITED STATES .

Leaves short, yellow-green.

Leaves elongated, usually falcate, dark green

1. T. BEEVXFOLIA.

2. T. Florid ana.