Mexican yew

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mesoamerican Yew
• Mexican Yew

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Taxus baccata var. globosa
• Taxus baccata subsp. globosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae. Within the order Pinales, it is classified under the family Taxaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Taxus, specifically as the species Taxus globosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions within the country of Mexico. Its distribution spans across Mexico Central and the northeastern territories of the nation. Additionally, the species can be found growing throughout the Mexico Gulf region. It also extends into the areas classified as Mexico Southwest. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes the Mexico Southeast region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Taxus globosa is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically functioning across the life form spectrum as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. As a perennial woody species, it maintains its reproductive buds well above the ground level, protected by its structural growth throughout various seasonal cycles. This life strategy allows the plant to establish a stable, long-term presence in its ecosystem, utilizing its elevated bud placement to withstand environmental stressors while facilitating long-term survival and continuous vegetative development.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Taxus globosa is characterized by a growth form that primarily manifests as a tree, though it can also be categorized as a shrub depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions. This species is fundamentally a woody plant, possessing a robust and lignified structure. In terms of its ecological habit, it is a terrestrial organism, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and it functions as an independent species without parasitic requirements. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a self-supporting architecture, distinguishing it from climbers, vines, or lianas, as it maintains its own structural integrity without the need for external support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Taxus globosa has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, Anxiolytic, CNS-Depressant.

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiolytic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CNS-Depressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Taxus globosa has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, arthritis, gout, headache, pain.

Anxiety

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gout

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Headache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology