Yew plant-FOR Erasmus+project
Collaborative dictionary of mythological plants
FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
TARGET GROUP NUMBER: 7 María and Janire
Scientific name: Taxus baccata
Genus: Taxus
Class: Pinopsida
Species: T. baccata
Vulgar name
Spanish: tejo común
Basque: hagin arrunta
Italian: tasso
Greek: Ίταμος
Latin: taxus baccata
Morphological description
Uses, threats and singularity
In the ancient Celtic world, the yew tree had extraordinary importance; a passage by Caesar narrates that Catuvolcus, chief of the Eburones poisoned himself with yew rather than submit to Rome.
Toxicity: some parts of the yew plant are toxic to humans, yews can cause headaches, lethargy, aching joints, itching, skin rashes and asthma.
Traditions:
The yew is often found in churchyards in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and northern areas of Spain. In Asturian tradition and culture the yew tree has had a real link with the land, the people, the ancestors and the ancient religion. It was tradition on All Saints Day to bring a branch of a yew tree to the tombs of those who had died recently so they will find the guide in their return to the Land of Shadows.
Threats:
In 1021, Avicenna introduced the medicinal use of T. baccata for phytotherapy and used it as a cardiac remedy. Certain compounds found in the bark of yew trees were discovered in 1967 to have efficacy as anti-cancer agents. In the Central Himalayas, the plant is used as a treatment for breast and ovarian cancer.
Symbolism
Classical myths related to the plant
QUESTIONS
- Hecate was the goddess of...
- the wild lands and births
- the moon
- heaven and underworld
- The yew plant is used as a treatment for...
- headaches and amnesia
- leukemia and diabetes
- breast and ovarian cancer
- What is the latin name of the yew in latin?
- calendula
- taxus baccata
- quercus robur