Yew Berries

The Yew tree (taxus baccata) is easy to spot in the forest. A rick dark evergreen shrouded in mystery and folklore it has long had an association immortality and reincarnation, due possibly to it's longevity, commonly living up to 600 years and with some reaching up to 1000 years. Often found growing in graveyards, planted by Christians as a symbol of everlasting life, it had great spiritual importance long before their coming and is common in ancient lore. They are common, if not prolific, in some areas of the forest. A tree of the dead. All parts of the tree are toxic, except they say the red flesh of the berry, not the seed, just the red flesh; I've never tested that out though. Although I've thought about it more that once, the toxicity of the tree puts me off; I've seen it suggested that it's also alright to collect fungi, such as Chicken of the woods, which can grow on the Yews rich red trunk, I wouldn't eat that either. The leafs are the most toxic part of the tree, so much so that when dried their potency actually increases! All that said, when fruiting the dark green of the needles leafs and the bright red of the berries creates a striking mix in woodland where the other trees are fading as autumns progresses. Just remember the Yew has an association with the dead not just because of its longevity, but also it's toxicity and deserves our respect.