Taxus baccata

Taxus baccata, commonly known as the European yew, is a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree with dark green, needle-like leaves and reddish-brown bark. It typically grows in temperate regions of Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. The tree produces red, berry-like arils that contain seeds, while its wood has historically been valued for making bows and furniture. Notably, it contains compounds that, in controlled medicinal settings, are used to produce vincristine and vinblastine, important cancer-fighting drugs. Despite its benefits, most parts of the yew are highly toxic if ingested improperly.