Himalayan yew

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• East Himalayan Yew
• Himalayan Yew
• Taiwan yew

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Taxus wallichiana var. yunnanensis
• Taxus wallichiana subsp. yunnanensis
• Taxus sumatrana
• Taxus obscura
• Cephalotaxus sumatrana
• Taxus baccata subsp. wallichiana
• Taxus orientalis
• Taxus yunnanensis
• Taxus celebica
• Taxus chinensis var. yunnanensis
• Cephalotaxus celebica
• Taxus contorta var. mucronata
• Taxus phytonii
• Taxus suffnesii
• Taxus sumatrana subsp. obscura
• Taxus sumatrana subsp. celebica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Pinidae and order Pinales, it is further categorized into the family Taxaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Taxus and the specific species Taxus wallichiana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found specifically in the South-Central areas and throughout Tibet. Its range extends significantly into the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits the East Himalaya and Nepal. Additionally, the species is present in the Indo-China region, specifically within Laos. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for diverse mountainous and subtropical habitats.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Taxus wallichiana is defined by its preference for high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a specific niche within temperate coniferous forests. This species thrives across a distinct elevational gradient, typically found at altitudes ranging from a minimum of 1720 m AMSL to a maximum of 3500 m AMSL. Within this vertical range, it often grows in moist, shaded understories or along rocky slopes, benefiting from the cool, humid microclimates characteristic of Himalayan and sub-Himalayan ecosystems. Its distribution is closely tied to the availability of consistent moisture and well-drained, organic-rich soils, which support its slow growth patterns and long-term survival in these high-elevation habitats.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1720 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Taxus wallichiana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring long-term survival and stability within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that allows it to thrive in its specific habitat. This phanerophyte life form is further reinforced by its robust growth pattern, which supports its long-lived existence and characteristic stature in forest ecosystems.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Taxus wallichiana is characterized by a robust growth form as a tree, exhibiting a predominantly woody structure. Unlike climbing plants, it does not function as a climber, whether as a liana, vine, or self-supporting plant, nor does it exhibit obligatory or facultative climbing behaviors. The species is an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial habit rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Taxus wallichiana is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering pattern and distinct seed characteristics. The flowering period typically commences in March and concludes in April, though the timing can be variable across different environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a highly consistent mass; the seed mass is measured at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 0.04614 g, indicating a very narrow range of variation in the weight of its reproductive units.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Seed mass mean:

0.04614 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Taxus wallichiana has 5 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of natural products
4. Advances in experimental medicine and biology

Fruit

1. Advances in experimental medicine and biology

Root

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Seed

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Taxus wallichiana has 81 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include TAXOL, paclitaxel, Baccatin III, 19-Hydroxybaccatin III, Taxoids.

TAXOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences
3. Journal of biotechnology
4. BMC plant biology
5. Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology

paclitaxel

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. BMC genomics
5. Molecular plant

Baccatin III

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Frontiers in oncology
4. Microorganisms

19-Hydroxybaccatin III

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of natural products

Taxoids

1. Inflammopharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Molecular plant

10-DAB

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Microorganisms

10-Deacetylcephalomannine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

10-deacetyl-13-oxobaccatin III

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

7-Epi-10-deacetyltaxol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

7-epi-10-deacetylcephalomannine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Taxus wallichiana has 17 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Antiangiogenic, Anticarcinomic.

Anticancer

1. Journal of natural products
2. Microorganisms
3. BMC genomics
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. F1000Research

Analgesic

1. Food science & nutrition

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimicrobial

1. F1000Research

Antimitotic

1. Dr. Duke

Antioxidant

1. F1000Research

Medicinal Uses

Taxus wallichiana has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Analgesic, actinobacteria, bacteria, breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations