Taxus contorta
Taxus contorta, commonly known as the Himalayan Yew, is a resilient coniferous evergreen native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. Renowned for its medicinal properties, this species contains potent alkaloids, including taxanes, which are vital in modern oncology for developing life-saving anti-cancer drugs and supporting holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Taxus contorta
- Family: Taxaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae, it is classified under the order Pinales. Finally, it is a member of the Taxaceae family, specifically falling under 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 contorta, is recognized by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 密叶红豆杉 (zh), 密叶红豆杉 (zh-hans), and 密叶红豆杉 (zh-cn). Additionally, it is frequently called 西藏红豆杉 (zh) and 喜马拉雅红豆杉 (zh) to reflect its specific geographical associations.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 密叶红豆杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 密叶红豆杉 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 密叶红豆杉 | Wikidata |
| zh | 西藏红豆杉 | Wikidata |
| zh | 喜马拉雅红豆杉 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key mountainous regions. In Western Asia, its presence is noted within the borders of Afghanistan. It can also be found in the high-altitude regions of Tibet in China. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the species is distributed across Nepal and Pakistan. Finally, it is commonly located throughout the West Himalaya region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Asia | Afghanistan | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Chemicals
Taxus contorta has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Taxol.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Taxol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Taxus contorta has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Taxus contorta has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |