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                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Poisonous Plant Research: Logan, UT
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ARS Home Pacific West Area Logan, Utah Poisonous Plant Research Docs





- Bulletin 415
- Stakeholder Meetings
- IJPPR
- ISOPP Main
- Poisonous Plants By Toxic Syndrome
- Arrowgrass
- Bracken Fern (Western Bracken)
- Bitter Rubberweed
- Broom and Threadleaf Snakeweed
- Chokecherry
- Copperweed
- Deathcamas
- False Hellebore
- Greasewood
- Halogeton
- Hemp Dogbane
- Horsebrush
- Larkspur
- Locoweed
- Lupine
- Milkvetch
- Milkweed
- Nitrate-accumulating plants
- Oak
- Other toxic plants
- Colorado Rubberweed or Pingue
- Poison Hemlock
- Ponderosa Pine
- Rayless Goldenrod
- Selenium-Accumulating Plants
- Sneezeweed
- Spring Parsley
- St. Johnswort
- Tansy Ragwort
- Threadleaf and Riddell's Groundsels
- Water hemlock
- Yew

Yew (Taxus spp.)headline bar Leaves are stiff, narrow, and dark green to yellow-green.The yews are evergreen shrubs or small trees with reddish-brown bark in thin flaking scales; leaves are dark green to yellow-green, shaped like a narrow sickle, stiff, 1.25 to 2.5 cm long, and pointed at the apex.  Flowers are axillary, small, inconspicuous, and unisexual.  Fruit is bright scarlet red or sometimes yellow and fleshy.Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata)Yews grow throughout North America but are widely used as ornamentals.  Trimmings from the plants frequently cause poisoning in cattle, horses, and sheep. Taxine appears to be the toxic alkaloid.**Where and When It Grows**Ground hemlock (Taxus canadensis) grows from midwestern to northeastern states and Canada, and is native to North America. It is found among coniferous woods and deciduous forests, along slopes, in ravines and marshes, and along rocky cliffs.  Japanese yew (T. cuspidata) and English yew (T. baccata) grow throughout North America and are widely used as ornamentals.Note the small yellowish berries of English yew.**How It Affects Livestock**All species of livestock, humans, and pets are susceptible.  However, horses and cattle are most often poisoned with trimmings from hedges or shrubs.  Monogastrics are more sensitive.  Clinical signs generally occur rapidly but may be delayed for up to 2 days depending on how much was ingested.  Green foliage is toxic to ruminants at about 0.5 percent of the animal's body weight and 0.1 percent in monogastrics such as horses.**Signs and Lesions of Poisoning**DistressDyspnea; rapid breathingTrembling, incoordination, and collapseDiarrhea, GI distress, abdominal cramping; vomiting in some speciesRapid death from cardiac failurePulmonary congestion and edemaIrritation of the GI tractDiagnosis is based on identification of plant parts in the stomach contents and   history of clinical signs and sudden death **How to Reduce Losses**Remove animals from the source and avoid discarding trimmings where animals have access.  There is no specific treatment but atropine and lidocaine have been used to treat depressant effects and cardiac arrhythmias.


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