The black-purple, smooth berry grows in clusters at the ends of branches. It can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea and headache. Common evergreen-type hedge with small red olive shaped berries containing one seed or pit. The fleshy part of the berry is sweet to taste and non-toxic, but the pit is toxic if chewed. All other parts of the plant are toxic if the seeds are swallowed whole.
Treatment depends on the number of berries ingested.
Symptoms generally occur in 30 minutes to 3 hours and can include dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, apnea, and seizures. A 40 year old woman died from cardiac arrhythmia's five hours after ingesting 150 yew leaves. Always call the Poison Center for assistance for these ingestions. Leaves and berries are toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, circulatory and respiratory depression several hours after eaten. Less toxicity is seen with the ripe red berries.