Bark is thin, purple, and scaly.
Yew is a small genus of about eight species scattered across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Although it's grouped with the conifers because it has needle-like foliage, its fruit is not a cone. All yews contain a natural chemical called taxol, which is very promising in the treatment of certain types of cancer. Only one yew, Pacific yew, is native to the Pacific Northwest. However, English and Irish yews are commonly planted in lawns and gardens for ornamental purposes.