Florida Yew
Taxus floridana Nutt. ex Chapm.
Taxus floridana, known as the Florida yew, is a critically endangered yew species endemic to the Apalachicola River region in northern Florida. It grows in mesophytic forests at elevations of 15–40 m and has a restricted extent of occurrence of 24 km. Once listed as endangered in Florida, it no longer has legal protection under U.S. or state endangered species programs. However, much of its native range is within Torreya State Park and the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, offering some level of conservation. The species has a declining population and is internationally recognized as critically endangered.
Description
Taxus floridana is a species of the genus Taxus in the family Taxaceae. It is native to a narrow area along the Apalachicola River in northern Florida. The species is characterized by its limited geographic range and is found in mesophytic forest habitats. Despite its former inclusion in the Florida endangered species program, it currently lacks formal legal protection. Conservation efforts are focused on the protected areas where it occurs, though its population remains in decline. The species was first described in 1860 by Nutt. ex Chapm.
Other common names
Florida Yew
Distribution
Global · Florida · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Northeast
Synonyms
Taxus canadensis var. floridanaTaxus baccata subsp. floridanaTaxus baccata var. floridanaTaxus globosa var. floridanaTaxus canadensis subsp. floridanaTaxus baccata var. floridana
