Taxus brevifolia

Taxus brevifolia, commonly known as Pacific yew, is a small to medium evergreen tree native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. It has dark green needle-like leaves and reddish-brown bark. The tree is significant because it produces a compound called paclitaxel (originally known as taxol), which is used in chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Historically, the bark was harvested to extract this drug, but overharvesting threatened the species. Today, sustainable methods, such as cell culture, are used to produce paclitaxel, helping to conserve the Pacific yew while providing important medical resources.