Oliver's plum yew (Cephalotaxus oliveri)

Oliver's Plum-Yew
Silhouette: LeonardoG (photography) and T. Michael Keesey (vectorization) / License

Cephalotaxus oliveri: Oliver's Plum Yew Characteristics and Habitat

Occurring naturally throughout the subtropical evergreen and mixed forests of central and southern China, Cephalotaxus oliveri forms a significant component of the forest understory.

This species generally occupies elevations between 300 and 1,800 meters above sea level.

Taxonomy

Morphology

This coniferous shrub or small tree grows up to 4 meters tall and exhibits scaly bark that ranges in color from yellow to grayish-brown.

Its rigid, leathery needles are arranged in a comb-like fashion, growing at an angle of 55 to 70 degrees from the branchlet axis, and measure 1.5 to 3.2 centimeters in length.

The solitary seed cones produce obovoid, ovoid, or nearly globose seeds that measure 2.2 to 2.7 centimeters in length, with pollination occurring between March and April and seeds maturing from August to October.

Flowering season

March to April

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Applications

The bark, twigs, roots, and seeds of this species are harvested for extractable alkaloids that display anti-carcinogenic properties.

In addition to its medicinal use, it is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental plant in botanical gardens and specialized landscapes.

Interesting facts

This species has suffered a population decline of more than 30% over the last century due to habitat loss and targeted harvesting for pharmaceutical research.

Its low genetic diversity further challenges its ability to adapt to rapid environmental changes and climate shifts.

Geography of distribution

  • China
  • Thailand
  • Laos
  • Vietnam
  • India

Sources

  • Plants of the World Online (POWO)
  • World Flora Online (WFO)
  • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  • Flora of China

Technical Information

External Databases: GBIF, POWO, Tropicos