Anglojap yew

Basic Information

Tree ID:

Family:

Genus and species:

Hybrid of Taxus baccata and Taxus cuspidata

Description:

Taxus x media, also known as the Anglojap yew, is a cross between the English yew and the Japanese yew. It is a versatile tree that comes in many shapes, and sizes including large trees, small bushes, or even tall hedges. It is a popular hedge amongst gardeners, for the beautiful evergreen has thick foliage and coverage year round, allowing it to be used as a privacy screen or for the purpose of topiary (the art of trimming a tree into geometric forms). Some visual cues when looking for an Anglojap yew include foliage with two-ranked needles either straight or curved, a red "olive" looking fruit during the spring, and light brown scaly bark.

Location

Area:

Grove Street Cemetery

Collected Data

Tree shape:

Vase

Date of tree entry:

03/02/2016

Height:

9.75 m

Diameter at breast height:

2.64 m

There are too many multiple trunks to accurately measure the DBH, so this is just an estimate

Bark

The bark of this hybrid, like both of its yew parents, possesses reddish-brown bark that is both scaly and peeling. As lichen often proliferates on the bark during spring. While one might expect the lichen to occur on parts of the bark receiving the most sun exposure (and thus facilitating photosynthesis by the photosynthetic algae) the Grove cemetary specimen supports the possibility that increased sun exposure may be linked increased the rates of peeling (and thus not necessarily an ideal lichen-substrate). One can also observe occasional color differences in the areas where lichen is found may also be attributed to the way that lichen can chemically alter its substrate. In addition to hosting over 250 species of fungi as well as the moth caterpillar species that feedon the lichen, the peeling bark also provides a home for insects and spiders. As the bark peels off and decays, it contributes to soil composition and microhabitat formation for squirrels and many species of birds (Spjut, 2014).

Twigs & branches

The specimen of Taxus x media found in Grove Cemetary is an example of an unpruned/untrimmed specimen. Its structural branches (often referred to as buttresses) and trunk(s) are visible. Like many Taxus sp., Taxus x media readily takes to pruning/shearing (Taxus x media: Noteworthy Characteristics) and is therefore frequently used for topiaries (examples of topiaries are featured in the photos below).

Foilage

Male plants bear pollen-producing cones which can be found throughout late march and early april. These cones are small and slightly greenish in color. Leaves: The leaves are needle-like in shape and dark green in color (with a lighter, duller green on the underside). This shape is often categorized as "acerose" and the pattern of the needle-like leaves as "two-ranked" (Taxus x media: Anglojap Yew, Laurence C, 2015)

Fruit

Taxus x media does not produce fruit, however, arils are red, fruit-like structures that grow around seeds. Taxus x media is dioecious (meaning sexes are on separate plants). Above (GardenClips.com) is an example of the red, fruit-like structure (rather than cones) found on the female plant (Taxus x Media: Noteworthy Characteristics). The Yale Nature Walk's Taxus x media specimen in Grove Street Cemetery features a pollen-producing (cone-bearing) “male” plant. The red aril (fruit-like structure surrounding the seed) is the only edible portion of the plant.

Seasons

Mature Taxus x media in Grove Street Cemetery New Haven, CT) during winter (taken March 2, 2016).
Mature Taxus x media in Grove Street Cemetery New Haven, CT) during spring (taken April 12, 2016, 2:52 pm. This is how the evergreen appears during both the spring and fall. The only noteworthy distinction is that features such as lichen, cones (and arils in the case of female plants) proliferate in the spring. Such details are not readily visible in this photo. (For detailed images, please consult the following headings above: “Cones,” “Fruits,” and “Bark.”
Mature Taxus x media in Grove Street Cemetery New Haven, CT) during summer (taken July 15, 2016, 9:40 pm)
Artistic topiaries made from Taxus x media during summer. The hedges above demonstrate highly modified (cut/trained) as topiaries
Examples (from Ladew Topiary Gardens in Maryland) of young, trimmed and “trained” taxus x media specimen
Young, winter photo of the evergreen Taxus x media 'Hicksii,’ (When ice and snow deal crushing blows).

Research

Natural range of distribution:

Habitat:

As a horticultural hybrid—initially introduced in Wellesley, Massachusetts at the turn of the century by selective breeding (Taxus x media: Anglojap Yew)—the designation of a “natural” habitat is not applicable to Taxus x media. The term “garden origin” is often used to describe ranges and habitats for such cases (Taxus x media: Anglojap Yew; Taxus x Media: Noteworthy Characteristics) (See below for a discussion of use as topiaries). We can, however note that despite its general hardiness, drought resistance, and flexible tolerance for sun exposure, Taxus x media generally requires well drained soils and usually does best in soils that are sandy and slightly acidic. So given these sets of conditions, Taxus x media can successfully propagate. With respect to individual sub-types/cultivars of Taxus x Media , there are over a dozen described (named) varieties of the hybrid, (Laurence C, 2015) all of which share these generally flexible tolerances and ranges, but vary in their regional popularity. Varieties (often deemed “subspecies”) include Bean Pole, Brownii, Chadwickii, Densiformis, Hatfieldii, Hicksii, Margarita, Senitnalis, Tuntonii, Virdis, and Wardii. Due to the confusion and controversy surrounding the taxonomy of the Taxus genus (Li, Davis, Del Tredici, & Donoghue, 2001), the classification of Taxus x media is particularly tricky and a common point of taxonomic disagreement (Spjut, 2014). Taxus buccata (English Yew) can be found in Europe, regions of northern Africa and parts of Western Asia. (Taxus baccata). Taxus cuspidata (Japanese Yew) is native to Korea, China, Russia and Japan (Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata').

Origin, history, and uses:

The original cultivation of the many sub-species/cultivars listed as forms of Taxus x media (Laurence, C, 2015) are attributed to the work of T.D. Hatfield, who, in the early 1900s developed the hybrid of T. baccata and T. cuspidate in Wellesley Massachusetts (Taxus x media: Anglojap Yew)(. As mentioned above, the taxonomy of the hybrid’s subspecies (and even that of the genus at large) remains highly contested in part because the history of its cultivation is wrought with incomplete record keeping and conflicting historical accounts (Li, Davis, Del Tredici, & Donoghue, 2001; Spjut, 2014)

In addition to its decorative and functional use in landscaping (both as topiaries and hedges), the genus has received a great deal of attention because its bark contains cancer-fighting, chemical compounds used as key ingredients in a chemotherapy drug known as Taxol (GardenClips.com; Spjut, 2014).

While such Taxus plant derivatives can have surprising adaptations, these toxic alkaloid chemicals exemplify the kinds of secondary metabolites/phytochemicals that make every part of Taxus x media poisonous to herbivores (and humans). In fact every part of the Taxus x media plant is toxic (except for the fleshy red aril surrounding the seed. Even the seed coat itself is toxic, but some birds have learned to skillfully remove this coating (WoodlandTrust).

Phenology:

As a conifer, the foliage of the Anglojap yew is green throughout the entire year. The Anglojap yew’s cones emerge in March and April; however, the cone color is so inconspicuous and sometimes absent that bloom time is often listed as non-flowering or insignificant (Plant Database). Opposingly, the Anglojap Yew’s fruit-lie aril is an ornamental olive-brown seed covered by a red fleshy sheath, which are produced by the female plants instead of cones. The aril generally appears in September and does not persist for long (Plant Database).

References:

Phenology

Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2016, from http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/detail.php?pid=496

Distribution:

USDA Agricultural Research Service. Retrieved April 25, 2016, http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Bark:

Photo 1: (Gardenclips.com, 2015).

Photo 2:(LouisLovesGardening, 2015).

Spjut, R. W. (2014). Introduction to Taxus: Methodology, Taxonomic Relationships, Leaf and Seed Characters, Phytogeographical Relationships, Cultivation, and Chemistry. The World Botanical Associates Web Page. Retrieved from http://www.worldbotanical.com/Introduction.htm

Foliage:

Department of Horticulture. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/Geneve/teaching/PLS 220/Woodytaxus.pdf

Laurence C, H. (2015). Cultivars of Woody Plants: Pseudotsuga, Sciadopitys, Sequoia, Sequoiadendron, and Taxus: TCR Press.

Fruit:

Taxus x Media: Noteworthy Characteristics. Plant Finder. Webpage. Missouri Botanical Garden. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d95

GardenClips.com. Anglo Japanese Yew - Taxus x media - How to grow Yew - Mature Yew - Toxic Plant. Youtube Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAbG_vIjsQ

Seasonal Photos:

Summer:

1.GardenClips.com. Anglo Japanese Yew - Taxus x media - How to grow Yew - Mature Yew - Toxic Plant. Youtube Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAbG_vIjsQk

2.GardenClips.com. Anglo Japanese Yew - Taxus x media - How to grow Yew - Mature Yew - Toxic Plant. Youtube Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAbG_vIjsQk

Winter:

1.When ice and snow deal crushing blows. Garden A to Z. Retrieved from http://www.gardenatoz.com/what’s-up!/ensemble-weekly-editions/winter/what’s-up-195-annual-report,-winter-damage,-birds,-snowplay/winter-damage-to-plants/

Natural Habitat:

ADDIN EN.REFLIST Li, J., Davis, C. C., Del Tredici, P., & Donoghue, M. J. (2001). PHYLOGENY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF TAXUS (TAXACEAE) INFERRED FROM SEQUENCES OF THE INTERNAL TRANSCRIBED SPACER REGION OF NUCLEAR RIBOSOMAL DNA. Harvard Papers in Botany, 6(1), 267-274.

Laurence C, H. (2015). Cultivars of Woody Plants: Pseudotsuga, Sciadopitys, Sequoia, Sequoiadendron, and Taxus: TCR Press.

Taxus baccata. Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d948

Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c237

Taxus x media: Anglojap Yew. Plant Database. College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. University of Connecticut. Plant Database. Retrieved from http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/detail.php?pid=496

Origin and History:

GardenClips.com. Anglo Japanese Yew - Taxus x media - How to grow Yew - Mature Yew - Toxic Plant. Youtube Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAbG_vIjsQk

Li, J., Davis, C. C., Del Tredici, P., & Donoghue, M. J. (2001). PHYLOGENY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF TAXUS (TAXACEAE) INFERRED FROM SEQUENCES OF THE INTERNAL TRANSCRIBED SPACER REGION OF NUCLEAR RIBOSOMAL DNA. Harvard Papers in Botany, 6(1), 267-274.

WoodlandTrust. Yew (Taxus baccata).

Media and Arts

Hello From Yale Nature Walk: A presentation of the Anglojap Yew

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Katherine Raphael on April 27, 2016:

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