How to identify Nutmeg yews (Torreya)
Nutmeg yews, also known as Nutmeg trees
Nutmeg yews presents itself as a robust evergreen, reaching notable heights of 16 to 65 feet (5 to 20 meters) which may manifest as a shrub or tree. Its leaves exhibit a distinct arrangement where they spiral around branches yet align in two flat rows, a characteristic feature for identification. This species may be monoecious with separate male and female cones on different branches, or dioecious. The female seed cones are particularly striking, resembling large drupes with a fleshy exterior that’s greenish-purple to yellowish, enclosing the seed.
Lifespan: Perennial
Leaf Type: Evergreen
Leaves spiral around branches in two flat rows, with sharp tips and parallel waxy bands.
Female cones resemble large drupes with greenish-purple to yellowish fleshy exteriors.
Fruit changes from green to purple, 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long, enclosing a single edible seed.
Bark is shallowly furrowed, peeling in strips, exhibiting earthy hues like brown or gray.
Varied heights of 16 to 65 feet, presenting as shrub or tree, with monoecious or dioecious forms.
The leaves of nutmeg yews are green, linear, and spiral around the shoots. They are twisted to lay flat in two rows, each having a sharp tip. The leaves are 0.8-3 inches (2-7.6 cm) long and 3-4 mm wide. The upper side is lustrous, while the underside features waxy-appearing bands running parallel to the midrib.
The fruit of nutmeg yews is a distinctive drupe-like structure, approximately 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches (19-38 mm) in length, with a textured, fleshy outer layer that starts green and matures to purple. Inside, there is a single edible nut-like seed. This seed is enclosed within the green to purple flesh, adding to its drupe-like appearance. The fruit's consistency and color shift upon maturation are key identifiers, along with its unique size and shape.
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Scientific Classification of Nutmeg yews
