Medicine man of the forest
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The Pacific yew has been called the "medicine man" of the forest, a fitting metaphor for a tree that hides powerful medicine inside its deceptively docile appearance.
By Metro naturalist Deb Scrivens
Pacific Yew – a tree of distinction
The Pacific yew has been called the "medicine man" of the forest, a fitting metaphor for a tree that hides powerful medicine inside its deceptively docile appearance. The yew is gnarled with sparse foliage and trimmed with moss and lichen. The trunk is often twisted and crooked with reddish, papery bark that appears to be peeling off.
There are only an estimated four million Pacific yews remaining in the moist mature forests of the Pacific Northwest. Though they can grow to 16 inches in diameter and 50 feet tall, most yews never reach canopy status, living their lives among the forest shrubs. Yews are one of the most long-lived trees. Our local species can live more than 1,000 years and some of their English cousins are believed to be more than 4,000 years old. Early cultures recognized the inherent wisdom of something that lives so long, and the yew became the subject of legend and an important spiritual connection to the forest.
A variety of uses
The wood from the Pacific yew is very strong. Native Americans of the Northwest used Pacific yews to make salmon spears, arrows, bows, digging sticks, paddles, fishnet and snowshoe frames, spoons, bowls, dowels and combs. The yew was also used to treat a variety of ailments including rheumatism, clots, fever, colds and stomach aches. Today a promising anti-cancer drug made from the bark of the tree is being widely tested, but the demand for this drug far exceeds the supply. Metro's parks and open spaces contain and protect many of these special trees. During your next visit, look for the Pacific yew and consider its connection to the past and future.
See for yourself
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