Taxus cuspidata var. cuspidata (Japanese yew, "Ichii")

Japanese name: イチイ （一位）
Scientific name: Taxus cuspidata var. cuspidata

[Overview]
An evergreen coniferous tree 20 m tall.
The bark is reddish brown and splits lengthwise.
The branches and leaves are dense.
The leaves are alternate simple leaves, linear, 0.5–2 cm long, with two pale green stomatal bands on the underside.
It is dioecious, and both male and female flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils.
The seeds are spherical and ripen to greenish brown, enclosed in a fleshy aril that turns red when ripe.
The aril is sweet and edible, but the seed inside is poisonous, so caution is needed.

[Uses]
Although poisonous, the leaves and seeds were used as folk medicine.
The wood is dense, hard and lustrous, and is made into alcove pillars, furniture, crafts and the like.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by layering.
When growing from seed, collect seeds whose arils have ripened red, then wash off the aril and sow immediately, or bury the seeds in moistened vermiculite or similar so they do not dry out and store them in a cool, dark place; take them out the following spring and wash them thoroughly once more before sowing.
It dislikes being transplanted somewhat.
It prefers fertile, well-drained soil in sun to partial shade.
It tolerates shade.
Avoid places exposed to strong afternoon sun.
For potted plants, and for plants in the ground less than 2 years after planting, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for established plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer around the plant as fertilizer in winter.
Pests and diseases include sooty mold, scarab beetles, bagworms (Minoga) and scale insects.

[Notes]
The Japanese name "Ichii" is said to come from the fact that, in the past, the wood was used to make the shaku (ceremonial tablet) of high-ranking officials.

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