Tags
conifer, early fall, edible, European Yew, foraging, hedge, late summer, Pacific Yew, poisonous, red berry, tree, yew
Unless confronted with more elaborate topiary forms, the urbanite is only passively aware of the importance of hedges in landscape architecture. Yet, the usual simplicity of hedge rows serves as a clear visual reference for the boundary between wild and cultivated, or public and private spaces. In short, hedges serve as green borders whether functional (see the Great Hedge of India) or aesthetic. In Berlin, the European Yew (Taxus baccata) is commonly employed as a hedge, although this particular use of the yew grossly understates its historical and medicinal significance.
The yew is one of the most ancient trees of Europe and a number of living specimens are thought to be thousands of years old (for example, the Fortingall Yew in Scotland). The earliest known wooden artifact is a yew spear, and the flexibility and durability of the yew tree have made it a preferred material for weapon-making throughout the centuries. The yew achieved notoriety in military history as the source of the renowned English longbow, the long range and deadly force of which helped win many battles for the English.
In the 1960s, compounds from the bark of the Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) were discovered to have anti-cancer properties. Today, Taxol (or paclitaxel) is considered an effective drug in the fight against ovarian cancer. However, before the active compound was successfully synthesized, the bark of four grown yew trees was only enough to treat a single cancer patient, so it is no surprise that the Pacific Yew quickly became an endangered species.
All parts of the yew (also known as “Tree of Death”) are extremely toxic, and concoctions made from the leaves and seeds have been used to commit suicide since ancient times. Yet, as any fearless forager knows, the flesh of the red berries (called arils) is edible and deliciously sweet. Care must be taken to eat only the berry and to completely avoid the seed in the middle! In Germany, the yew has been named “Giftpflanze des Jahres 2011” (poisonous plant of the year, 2011) in order to create awareness of its toxicity and possible fatalities due to its ingestion.
Wow, this post on yew was amazing – I feel like I just learned so much within 5 minutes of reading, from thoughts on the symbolism of hedges to yew’s weapon-construction uses and cancer-fighting properties to the fact that Germany has a “Giftpflanze des Jahres”!
A few random thoughts on the topic:
- I’ve noticed that the sweet berries are sometimes concealed well within the bush, perhaps because of overzealous pruning, so you have to look carefully to find them.
- At the huge botanical garden Erholungspark Marzahn in Berlin, near the entrance, there is a huge hedge maze, like in Alice in Wonderland or Harry Potter, made of yew. If you get lost in there, you can sustain yourself on yew berries until someone finds you, ha ha.
- Speaking of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling tapped into yew’s deadly reputation by specifying yew for the wood of Voldemort’s wand (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/wands.html)
Thanks again for the thought-provoking article!
Leslie, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! As usual, they are insightful and informative.
It’s embarassing to admit but we have not yet made it out to Marzahn to visit their Gardens of the World… the last time we tried, we got sidetracked and spent the entire afternoon at the Dong Xuan Center. In any case, this Yew hedge sounds aMAZEing and you’ve given us new incentive to make it out there!
Ah, what did you think of the plants at the Dong Xuan Center?
I really have to go there and photograph them sometime. I have only been there once, but I didn’t really like it actually. I would join you on an expedition to the Erholungspark! I have also only been there once and that was before they added the new garden with the amazing fence made of words.
An expedition to the Erholungspark sounds great, Leslie! Let’s hope for a few more warm days before winter sets in, otherwise we might have to wait for spring… This cold weather makes me want to hibernate
We had a good time at the Dong Xuan Center, although in the end we didn’t really find anything that we couldn’t have gotten at our local Asian store (in terms of food, that is)… What didn’t you like about it?
Also, have you checked out Berlin Reified? Sylee knows a lot about good places to market in Berlin, local foods and places to find cherries! http://www.berlinreified.com/
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What an interesting read. I remember the Yew from our garden when I was a child. Kids were afraid of its toxic berries. Yet, when I see it now, I would like to draw these Asian lantern like berries
I’ve bookmarked your blog for more reading.
And we would love to see your drawing of Yew berries… judging by the rest of your artwork, it would be beautiful
Thanks for commenting!
I lately read that in our woodland area when the local waste service collects the green from your garden, they pay you for branches of yew.
I think lots more trees and bushes have medical properties. We just forgot these and need to refresh our knowledge.
Paula
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