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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Taxus brevifolia Trade Name Pacific yew Family Name Taxaceae Common Names Pacific yew, Western yew, Yew Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Bows, Cabinetmaking, Musical instruments , Paddles, Turnery Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The growth range of the Pacific yew extends from extreme southeastern Alaska south along the coast to central California. It is also found in southeast British Columbia down through the Rocky Mountains to central Idaho. It usually grows from sea level in the northern parts of its growth range to elevations of 7000 feet (2134 m) in the south. It prefers moist soils of stream banks and canyons and is usually found in the understory of coniferous forests of Douglas fir, Red cedar, Pine or Larch. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown White Grey Orange - bright Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Figure Variable (figure) Variable figure Straight Closed Texture Coarse Too heavy for general purpose plywood Fine Dense Luster High Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable High natural resistance to wood destroying organisms Heartwood has high natural resistance to attack by fungi The wood can be used for exterior applications without any chemical protection. Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Dust from machining operations is reported to cause temporary nose irritation and swollen hands in some individuals. Most parts of the tree, including the seeds and foliage are also poisonous, and can be life threatening if ingested Drying Defects Moderate drying rates produce distortion and slight warping Shakes may be severe if the wood is dried too rapidly Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Little degrade Mild kiln schedules recommended to minimize drying defects End coatings have been recommended to slow down the rate of drying in order to minimize degrade Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m The evergreen trees usually develop an angled trunk that is typically twisted or irregular Product Sources Supplies are rather limited in both lumber and veneer forms, and the material is priced in the costly range when available. Comments Pacific yew is of little commercial importance because of its scarcity Blunting Effect Little Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Tends to split during nailing Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Yields clean surfaces Responds well to most ordinary tools in machining operations Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Pre-boring recommended Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Responds very well to steam bending Polishing Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Staining Non-Oil finishes are suggested since oil is reported to turn the heartwood to a chocolate-tan. Strength Properties The weight is high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Weight 40 33. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric References Kline, M. 1980. Taxus brevifolia - Pacific yew. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 335-336. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.