ID#: 23543
Caption:
This photograph depicts a close view of a yew tree, Taxus baccata, highlighting its small, flat, evergreen needles and bright red seed cones known as arils. Each aril contains a single seed. While the fleshy aril itself is not toxic, the enclosed seed is highly poisonous. Birds commonly consume the arils and later disperse the intact seeds in their droppings. Nearly all parts of the yew, except the aril, contain cardiotoxic taxine alkaloids. Ingestion of sufficient quantities of yew tissue can result in cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, or respiratory failure. Both domesticated and wild animals are frequently affected after consuming leaves or seeds, and human fatalities have been reported throughout history, including accounts in ancient Roman lore describing its use in suicide.
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Content Provider(s): CDC/ James M. Stewart
Creation Date: 1967
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Copyright Restrictions: Yes - This image is copyright protected. Any public or private use of this image is subject to prevailing copyright laws. Please contact the content provider of this image for permission requests.