Taxus is a
genus of small
coniferous trees or
shrubs in the yew family
Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1–40 m, with trunk girth averaging 5 m. They have reddish
bark, lanceolate, flat, dark-green
leaves 1–4 cm long and 2–3 mm broad, arranged spirally on the stem, but with the leaf bases twisted to align the leaves in two flat rows either side of the stem.