TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
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Tree or shrub, dioecious, evergreen
Leaves simple, alternate, not in bundles, generally appearing 2-ranked, < 5 cm, linear, decurrent; tip acute
Pollen cone with < 32 stamen-like structures
Seed solitary at tip of short twig, partly or completely enclosed by subtending aril; coat woody; cotyledons 2
Genera in family: 5 genera, 16 species: n hemisphere; some Taxus species widely used in landscaping
Reference: [Florin 1948 Bot Gaz 110:3139]
Stem: trunk often of irregular width; branches somewhat drooping; wood not aromatic
Leaves yellowish green, paler below, not aromatic; tip not sharply spiny
Pollen cone with a stalked cluster of 48 stamen-like structures
Seed maturing in 2 seasons; aril reddish, open at top
Species in genus: ± 7 species: n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin, probably from Greek: bow, for which wood used)