yew

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Any of a group of evergreen coniferous trees native to the northern hemisphere. The dark green flat needlelike leaves and bright red berrylike seeds are poisonous; the wood is hard and close-grained. (Genus Taxus, family Taxaceae.)

The western or Pacific yew (T. brevifolia) is native to North America. English yew (T. baccata) is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree. The wood was formerly used to make longbows.

The anticancer drug taxol is synthesized from the bark of the Pacific yew.

The colours of the flag date from Napoleon's invasion in 1796. The design is based on the French tricolour. Effective date: 19 June 1946. >>