Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata L.
Taxaceae – Yew family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Dioecious tree, over 20 m high and with stem up to 1 m in diameter. Leaves evergreen, flat, up to 3.5 cm long and 2 mm wide, dark green above, glossy, light green below, with slightly recurved ribs, without resin channels. Male flowers with few stamens, clustered in axillary cones. Female flowers with 6 imbricate scales and one ovule, single, terminal on short twigs. Seed hard, ovoid, brown, surrounded by a fleshy, scarlet cover (aril), sweet. Fl. IV–V, fr. VII−VIII. Wind pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Occurs in shady, humid places, along streams, found in deciduous and mixed forests; individual trees or in groups.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Forebalkan (Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park – between Vratsa and Skaklya waterfall, Metkovski Dol locality, and Svetogorski peak near Veliko Tarnovo), Balkan Range (western, central – Troyan and Gabrovo Balkan, below Maragidik peak), Vitosha region (Boyana waterfall), Slavyanka Mt (Paril ravine), Pirin Mts (below Yavorov chalet), Rila Mts (Kirilova Polyana locality, the valleys of Beli Iskar, Bistritsa and Urdina rivers), Rhodopi Mts (Chervenata Stena locality, above Oreshari peak, Maglenishki hill, Batak gorge, Sestrimo), Strandzha Mts (Tisovitsa reserve, Marina Reka Protected Site); between 150–1700 m alt.
General distribution. Almost whole of Europe and in the mountains of the Mediterranean area, SW and C Asia (Caucasus, Asia Minor), N Africa.
Threats. Restricted distribution, low number of individuals, strong fragmentation of populations, timber use in the past, as well as the specific ecological needs have negative impact on the reproductive potential and are threatening the species with extinction.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected by the Biodiversity Act. Part of the populations are within the borders of protected areas (Central Balkan, Rila and Pirin National Parks, Vrachanski Balkan, Vitosha, Rila Monastery and Strandzha Nature Parks, Vrachanski Karst, Alibotush and Topolnitsa Reserves, Marina Reka Protected Site, etc.). The localities of the species are also within sites of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the state of the localities, reproduction biology and factors having impact on the area and number of individuals of the populations; collection of seeds for the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria; ex situ cultivation of the species.
References. Stojanov 1963; Nedyalkov 1984; Petrova 1998; Ouzunov et al. 2002; Assyov et al. 2007.
Author: Lyuba Evstatieva
