VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Taxus floridana | Florida Yew 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 



IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Birds consume almost of all ripe Florida yew cones [6].  The relatively
small distribution of this tree makes it unlikely that it is an
important food source for any species.  White-tailed deer rubs on
Florida yew are common, sometimes causing extensive damage or death to
the stem.  Florida yew is a preferred food for beavers.  Yellow-bellied
sapsuckers excavate Florida yew for insects; holes characteristic of
this bird were found on mature Florida yew stems [20].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Taxol, a compound used to combat cancer, has been isolated from Florida
yew bark [7].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Florida yew occurs in forests that may be subject to logging and/or
other private development.  It has also been found to contain taxol in
quantities similar to those found in Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), and
may be exploited for that purpose.  This may pose a major threat to
Florida yew, considering the small number of extant individuals and its
extremely restricted range.  If in vitro production of taxol is
developed, exploitation of Florida yew for taxol production may become
less of a threat to remaining populations [7].

Florida yew occurs in some areas that have been protected (The Nature
Conservancy's Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve and Torreya State
Park), but many populations remain without specific protection.
Long-term monitoring programs, artificial propagation studies, and
studies on the fungi associated with Florida yew (as possible taxol
producers) are underway.  Further studies on its reproductive biology
and other ecological characteristics have been recommended [7].

The seeds and fresh foliage are poisonous to humans [3].

Related categories for Species: Taxus floridana | Florida Yew