Dioecious tree 6‑18 m tall. Branches spreading, irregular; bark reddishbrown, scaly. Leaves spirally disposed, linear, 2‑4 cm long, upper surface green, shiny. Staminate cone solitary, globose, axillary on the underside of branches. Sporophylls 6‑10 in number, peltate, each with 5‑8 pendant sporangia; microspores not winged. Female flowers solitary, axillary, green, with 3 pairs of scales, decussate. Seed olive‑green, when young (ovule) partially surrounded by a red fleshy aril.

Type: Wallich 6054.

Our species only differs from the European T. baccata in the longer leaves which are generally not abruptly cuspidate. Possibly it only merits subspecific rank. The leaves are poisonous, but the aril is harmless. The yew tree is fairly common in the Himalayas from 1800‑3000 m. The heartwood is reddish‑brown in colour and of good quality but because of the irregular shape of the tree trunk is not useful. The wood is supple and in olden times was used for the constructing of bows. Flowers appear from mid‑February to early March and the fruits ripen in September‑October; Distribution: Afghanistan, N.W. India, Burma, Indonesia; Phillipines.