A fascinating look at all aspects of the botany, cultural history, and
remarkable mythology of the genus Taxus The yew is one of the most
fascinating and versatile life forms on Earth, botanically rich and
intriguing, and culturally almost without comparison. This impressive
study of the yew reveals that in history, mythology, religion, folklore,
medicine, and warfare, the yew bears timeless witness to a deep
relationship with mankind. It is the tree that Darwin often rested
beneath and under which he wanted to be buried. In 1803 Wordsworth
celebrated the great yew in Lorton Vale, "single, in the midst of its
own darkness," a tree under which both the great Quaker George Fox and
John Wesley preached. In many cultures it is the Tree of Life, and its
association with European churchyards has given it a particular claim on
the popular imagination as a living link between present landscapes and
those of the distant past. This history of the yew makes the case for
better conservation of this extraordinary life form and includes a
worldwide gazetteer of yew stands and other useful information for those
wishing to explore further the study of the yew.
