Are yew berries poisonous?

[STYRBJORN]

There was some discussion about toxicity of yew berries recently. Attending a university with a top level biology department has its advantages if you are interested in wildlife and I have done some checking.

Among the most popular berries with birds are hawthorn, holly, and yew. None of these is a berry! A berry is "a fleshy fruit with an outer skin and in which are embedded numerous seeds."

Hawthorn and holly are "drupes", fleshy fruits with one or a few seeds, each of which is surrounded by a hard stony wall like a peach or plum. Yew is a different matter altogether. Being a conifer, it does not produce fruit. The "berry" is a highly modified female cone in which the single exposed seed has become surrounded by a red fleshy "aril". The foliage of the yew contains a cocktail of highly toxic alkaloids, as does the seed coat. The aril is not toxic and is a special favourite of blackbirds which act as efficient seed dispersers. Some birds, such as greenfinches, even manage to remove the toxic seed coat to get at the nutritious embryo.

Taken with modification from an article by David Harper, Head of Life Sciences.

Note that hawthorn "berries", although not toxic per se can have medical effects on human metabolism.

[bigdave60dog]

Leaving aside the discussion on what are berries or not to the discussion of what is poisonous or not. Yew "fruit" contain strong emetics which cause birds to regurgitate them shortly after consumption. This ensues effective seed distribution without the need for the seed to pass through the digestive system.
The chemicals contained are obviously "Drugs" all drugs are "Poisons".

[artdemole]

SEE also Four wings post 23-11-2005 one not to eat. Very good info there...

[Johnny Redgate]

post removed

[tom00_uk]

i seem to recall the only bit of the plant thats not poisonous is the red flesh, but every thing else on the plant is poisonous so they are best left alone

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

i seem to recall the only bit of the plant thats not poisonous is the red flesh, but every thing else on the plant is poisonous so they are best left alone

Good summary! Unless you're a blackbird of course.

[tcvarlh]

Yew is definitely a 'fruit' best left alone. The aril is edible and quite tasty IF one likes gooey sticky excessive sweetness but bothersome to obtain. And the risk is rather high. In times of dire need I assume folks would collect and use the gluey mess but I tried Yew arils and found them to be too much 'niceness' I'll stick to Raspberries and Bramblies.
There are many recipes from Mediaeval England regarding Haw, with syrups/cordials and preserves being the main. Haw has immense Vit. C and would have been a Winter Scurvy prophylaxis. The leaves are also full of late Winter medicine. I have eaten Haw but found it bitter and unappetising. A hell of a lot of collecting has to be done to produce a jar of jam too! Stay with Hips, tastier and just as good for you. Holly is also best not messed with especially if you are early pregnant. (Not that I would ever be) It seems to have an effect similar, though lesser, to Mistletoe.
h

[ChrisJB]

I once did a 'botany walk' with some dude in Yorkshire who surprised me by eating a yew 'berry', telling me that the flesh is perfectly edible but told me it was vital that he spat the seed out as that bit isn't. He was still standing by the end of the walk and as hale and hearty as he was at the start.
Thus, once or twice since I have tried the flesh too, but haven't found it particularly pleasant.

Regards, Chris

[faz]

i think the short answer is YES styrbjorn

[Jim Ford]

I've tried Deadly Nightshade. I just chewed a couple of the berries to get the flavour and spat them out. They had an insipid slightly sweetish taste.

Jim