Pacific yew

The Pacific yew is a tree native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is known for its dense, reddish-brown wood and dark green, needle-like leaves. A significant aspect of the Pacific yew is its bark, which contains a compound called paclitaxel, used in cancer treatments. This discovery led to interest in the tree for medicinal purposes, but over-harvesting raised concerns about its conservation. Today, paclitaxel is often produced synthetically, reducing the need to harvest the Pacific yew, which is now protected in many areas to preserve its population.