Canada Yew

Also called Ground Hemlock — a low, spreading evergreen conifer of Alberta's deep boreal forests and shaded ravines, rarely exceeding knee height but sprawling metres wide. Soft dark-green needles and, on female plants, fleshy red berry-like arils in late summer. While the sweet red aril flesh is edible, the seed inside and ALL other parts (needles, bark, wood) contain highly toxic taxine alkaloids that can cause rapid cardiac arrest in humans, pets, and livestock. Paclitaxel (Taxol), the chemotherapy drug, was originally derived from yew species.