Cephalotaxus

Cephalotaxus is a genus of evergreen conifers in the yew family Taxaceae (some classifications place it in its own Cephalotaxaceae). Native to eastern Asia, they occur in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Common names for the genus include plum yew and Japanese plum yew.

Description and habitat: Cephalotaxus species are generally slow-growing shrubs or small trees, typically reaching a few meters in cultivation and up to several meters in the wild. They have slender, linear leaves that are flat and arranged in two ranks along the shoots, giving a soft, feathery appearance. Leaves are dark green above and lighter beneath. The trees are adapted to shade and to a range of soil types, usually preferring well-drained conditions and cool to temperate climates. They produce small, inconspicuous cones as part of their reproductive cycle.

Taxonomy and species: The genus comprises several species, with Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Japanese plum yew), Cephalotaxus fortunei (Fortune’s plum yew), and Cephalotaxus sinensis (Chinese plum yew) among the better known. Species vary in habit from compact shrubs to larger, upright forms.

Toxicology and uses: All parts of Cephalotaxus contain toxic alkaloids, notably cephalotaxine and related compounds; ingestion can be dangerous to humans and animals. Botanically and pharmacologically, the genus is notable for har­ring harringtonine, a compound studied for anti-cancer uses. Homoharringtonine, derived from Cephalotaxus harringtonia, is used clinically in certain leukemias as part of therapy. In horticulture, Cephalotaxus is valued for year-round greenery and is commonly grown as ornamental shrubs, hedges, or specimen trees.