Grid reference | ST 17856 84000 |
Common name | Westfelton yew |
Common name | Dovaston's yew |
Origin | Garden origin |
Deciduous | No |
Status | Rare |
Height | 2.5M October 2016 |
Girth | |
Reference | 474 |
This tree is in the lower park, beside the east path.
General tree description for Taxus baccata 'Dovastoniana'
Taxus baccata 'Dovastoniana' is a cultivar of the Common or English yew. It is a small, widespreading tree, 3 to 5 metres tall and often broader than it is high. Its stem is short and straight, and there are tiers of long level branches with weeping branchlets. The leaves are flat needles, very dark, or blackish, green.
General tree description for Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a small to medium sized tree, typically ranging from 10 to 25 metres tall. It has a broadly conical shape often with a pointed tip. Its bark is scaly and grey, purplish or red brown. In age it may develop a short, very thick trunk, often burred. The leaves are linear with an abrupt point, 2 to 4cm long and 3mm wide, and very dark green with dull yellow-green undersides. They are arranged spirally round the erect shoots, but in one flattened rank either side of the side shoots. Male and female strobili (flowers) appear in spring, on separate plants. Flowers on male trees are small and globular, turning yellow and shedding clouds of pollen in February. Female trees bear minute, solitary green flowers, inconspicuous until developing into fleshy bright red fruits (arils) in early autumn. Each fruit contains a single poisonous seed. The leaves also are highly toxic.