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Taxus baccata


Taxus baccata
Photo Information
Copyright: Anne Gattlen (anel) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-09-27
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 30 D
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-09-30 4:39
Viewed: 2856
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
TAXUS BACCATA

European Yew
Europäische Eibe
If commun

Order: Pinales
Family: Taxaceae
Distribution: Europe, N'Africa, parts of Asia

It is relatively slow growing, but can be very long-lived, with the maximum recorded trunk diameter of 4 metres probably only being reached in about 2,000 years. The potential age of yews is impossible to determine accurately and is subject to much dispute. There is rarely any wood as old as the entire tree, while the boughs themselves often hollow with age, making ring counts impossible. There are confirmed claims as high as 5,000-9,500 years, but other evidence based on growth rates and archaeological work of surrounding structures suggests the oldest trees (such as the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire, Scotland) are more likely to be in the range of 2,000 years. Even with this lower estimate, Taxus baccata is the longest living plant in Europe.


Most parts of the tree are toxic, except the bright red aril surrounding the seed, enabling ingestion and dispersal by birds. The major toxin is the alkaloid taxane. The foliage remains toxic even when wilted or dried. Horses have the lowest tolerance, with a lethal dose of 200–400 mg/kg body weight, but cattle, pigs, and other livestock are only slightly less vulnerable Symptoms include staggering gait, muscle tremors, convulsions, collapse, difficulty breathing, coldness and eventually heart failure. However, death occurs so rapidly that many times the symptoms are missed. The wood remains poisonous after it is cut. Fatal poisoning in humans is very rare (Wikipedia)

Actually these trees are covered with red "arils" which are eaten by different species of birds, like European Trushes for example.

This is my 500th picture already :-)
KOMSIS, cobra112, jlinaresp, paolo49, jignasi, Argus, haraprasan, joska, eng55, CatherineD, cirano, eqshannon, goldyrs, uleko, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Merci Ivananel 1 10-02 05:28
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Anne,
excellent POV of this toxix plant!
TFS, Ferran

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 820 W: 0 N: 2419] (10674)
  • [2010-09-30 5:05]

Hi Anne,
Toxic ...
Superb macro of Taxus baccata, fine details and splendid sharpness, perfect focus and beautiful blurry BG.
In addition,
500. photos, congratulations..!
Best wishes,
Seyfi

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2010-09-30 5:06]

Hello anne,
such a beauty.The fruits are unique and strange to me. Very special indeed and special for your 500th upload.
Very subtle red in excellent smoothness of shines and colours.
Well contrasted composition with the background effectively enhances the composition.
A big congratulations!

Regards,
Foozi

Ciao Anne. Perfect details for the red fruits in good contrast and amazing light. Best compliments for your 500th MF! TFS.

Roberto

Ciao Anne, lovely composition with fantastic colors, wonderful blurry BG and splendid sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

Hi anne,
Nice DOF effect, making a very relevance in seeds with red aril, and archieving a beratiful surround OOF. 100 points in coloration and contrast level.
Well done, nice image.
TFS, Regards.
Jesús

Hello Anne,
very beautiful image of taxus baccata, details, sharpness, POV,light and background perfect. A splendid picture. Regards, Paolo

hello Anne
Congratulation with your 500th post on TN
i hope you send many more beauty,s
this is a beaytiful picture with great sharpness and soft red colours
greeting lou

Hola Anne,
felicidades por tus 500 fotografías en Tn. Si has llegado hasta aquí es que realmente
la naturaleza te interesa :-), por lo que espero ver publicadas muchísimas más.
Bonita manera de celebrarlo publicando una especie muy especial, el tejo, misteriosa
y atractiva a la vez.
Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2010-09-30 8:11]
  • [+]

Bonjour Anne,
Félicitations pour tu image 500e TN!
Une macro superbe des baies de Taxus baccata, de bonne netteté et bien composé avec ses aiguilles dans le BG avec de superbes couleurs naturelles.
J'attend avec impatience de voir les 500 prochaines!
Merci et bonne soirée,
Amitiés,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-09-30 8:13]

Hello Anne,
After a day without electricity I'm back now.
CONGRATULATIONS on your 500th posting.
Fantastic photo in splendid colours, a great composition and very good sharpness. Beautiful matching OOF BG. Hope to see lot more of your inspiring postings.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Anne,
A lovely capture of these beautiful red yew fruits. Good composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 806 W: 0 N: 4092] (22535)
  • [2010-09-30 9:46]

Hi Anne,
Very good photo of this Tisa, Taxus baccata fruit, TFS!

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2010-09-30 10:38]

Hi Anne,
Excellent close up,like 3D.Natural colors,BG,lighting and composition are wonderful.
Thanks for sharing..

Bonsoir Anne,
Bravo pour tes 500 photos et pour cette superbe capture! Les couleurs et détails sont splendides. On en mangerait presque si on n'avait pas lu ta note! ;) Amitiés,
Catherine

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2010-09-30 14:36]

Hello Anne,
Very interesting and strange fruit,excellent colors and sharp details.The composition is as stunning, too.
TFS and regards,
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2010-09-30 15:14]

Salut Anne,tu souvien moi ma jeunesse avec cette photo.Il y etait une plante comme ca,tres tres grande,au dehors de l'ecole,et tous les garcons s'amusaient a casser ces fruits sur la terre avec les chaussures...une photo super,avec des couleurs si reelles qu'il parait de pouvoir les toucher..mes compliments et bonne journee',LUCIANO

NOW I have learned something. The name Yew was familiar but I knew I had not seen one. This is a lesson in archeology as well as photography!
Bob

Bonjour Anne,
Quelle belle capture Anne!
Félicitation pour to 500ième post!
Bonne journée.
Goldy

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2010-10-02 7:31]

Hello Anne,
Congratulations on your 500th Post and a lovely one too!! It's always a great pleasure to see your contributions and I look forward to more! Amazing focus on these Yew berries showing lovely details and beautiful colours against the smooth background.
We have a small Yew with berries in the garden and today I just noticed that the Magpie eats the berries! I expect it spits the pip out!
TFS and all the best wishes, Ulla

Hi Anne. I can't imagine a tree leaving to 2000 years old. If they could talk, imagine the stories that they have witnessed around them. This shot is so juicy and I like how you have eliminated any reflection on the red. Love the focus, framing and how well you have worked with the lens. Thanks for sharing the useful notes too. Well done and have a great week ahead. Best regards - Jusni.

nice fruit closeup, TFS Ori

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