Taxus canadensis
American yew
Taxus canadensis, commonly known as Canada Yew, is a slow-growing coniferous evergreen native to North American forests. Renowned for its dense, needle-like foliage and red, fleshy arils, this resilient shrub holds significant botanical interest. While historically studied for medicinal properties, it requires careful handling due to its inherent toxicity.
- Scientific name: Taxus canadensis
- Family: Taxaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Pinidae and the order Pinales, falling into the family Taxaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Taxus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Pinidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pinales | WCVP |
| Family | Taxaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Taxus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Taxus canadensis, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Russia, it is referred to as Тис канадский, while in French-speaking areas, it is called If du Canada. In Germany, the species is known as Kanadische Eibe, and in Azerbaijan, it is identified as Kanada qaraçöhrəsi. Additionally, in Poland, the plant is commonly called cis kanadyjski.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Тис канадский | Wikidata |
| fr | If du Canada | Wikidata |
| de | Kanadische Eibe | Wikidata |
| az | Kanada qaraçöhrəsi | Wikidata |
| pl | cis kanadyjski | Wikidata |
| nb | Kanadabarlind | Wikidata |
| ar | طقسوس كندي | Wikidata |
| bg | канадски тис | Wikidata |
| is | Kanadaýr | Wikidata |
| azb | کانادا قاراچؤهرهسی | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across the diverse landscapes of Canada. In the western region, its presence can be identified within the province of Manitoba. Moving toward the east, it is found throughout the rugged terrain of Labrador. The species also inhabits the coastal and forested areas of New Brunswick. Finally, its range extends to the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Canada | Manitoba | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Labrador | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | New Brunswick | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Newfoundland | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Nova Scotia | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Prince Edward I. | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Canada yew, features distinctive dark green, flat needles that are arranged spirally along the stems but often appear two-ranked. While the needles are the most recognizable foliage component, the plant can be propagated through rooted cuttings, a method used to create new specimens from stem segments that have developed an established root system.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| needles | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rooted cuttings | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Taxus canadensis has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 13-acetyl-9-dihydrobaccatin III, 5alpha,10beta-dihydroxy-2alpha,9alpha,13alpha-triacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-diene, 5alpha,9alpha-dihydroxy-2alpha,10beta,13alpha-triacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-diene, Taxol, acetyl-CoA.
- Total chemicals
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 13-acetyl-9-dihydrobaccatin III | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5alpha,10beta-dihydroxy-2alpha,9alpha,13alpha-triacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-diene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5alpha,9alpha-dihydroxy-2alpha,10beta,13alpha-triacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-diene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Taxol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetyl-CoA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| baccatin VI | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methyl jasmonate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| paclitaxel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| paclitaxel (Taxol) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |