The yew is a slow growing evergreen often associated with churchyards. It can reach 400 to 600 years of age, but there are older trees such as the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire. However, it is often impossible to count the rings of the oldest specimens as the boughs are usually hollow.
The distinctive red fruit of the yew is a highly modified seed cone. Highly poisonous to humans, the berries are eaten by birds which spread the seeds in their droppings.
photo CC-BY-SA by Didier Descouens