lower tree – 10 (15) to 20 m tall, often as a multi-stemmed spreading shrub, crown conical, irregular, branches when young in the bushes – horizontally protruding
the bark is reddish-brown to grayish-brown, the bark peels off in thin reddish-brown oblong plates, the trunk is muscular
adventitious shoots are abundant when illuminated or damaged
the root system is heart-shaped, rich
it is a long-lived tree (it lives up to 2,000 – 3,000 years)
Buds
3 - 4 x 2 mm large, broadly ovate, reddish-brown, blunt
Shoots
light green, later reddish brown
Leaves (assimilation organs)
Needle-like 20 – 30 x 2 – 2.5 mm in size, linear, conical, flat, soft at the base tapered to a short stalk
dark green glossy from the top, yellow-green from the bottom, matte, on the twig they are arranged in a spiral in two rows
persist for 6-8 years
Flowers
dioecious woody plant, blooms IV – V
♂ in short ovoid cones, 3 mm in size, spherical, yellow, growing on the underside of the branches in the axils of the needles, densely grouped
♀ the cones are similar to slender buds, tiny
Fruits – seeds
seed 6 - 8 x 5 mm in size, oval, gently pressed with 2 - 4 edges, dark brown, has a firm seed
it is wrapped in a goblet-shaped jelly-like crimson red (also yellow) scrotum (arillus) – edible
matures VII - IX
Extension
Originally, the whole of Europe ± within the reach of an oceanic climate
Its occurrence is currently rather rare due to felling in the past for its quality wood
its largest natural occurrence in Europe is in Slovakia in the Harmanecká Valley (200 – 300 thousand individuals
in Slovakia, it grows in the alt. in. from 430 – 1,300 m a.s.l. m.
Ecology
wood of an oceanic climate
it is our shadiest conifer, but it can also tolerate full lighting
does not have high demands on soil fertility, but higher on moisture - both soil and air
is sensitive to low temperatures, frost and sudden shading
Significance
it is currently a protected tree species
the wood is hard, strong, flexible with a large proportion of dark reddish-brown core
the whole plant is poisonous (contains taxine – a mixture of alkaloids that can cause respiratory and cardiac arrest)
characterized by high stump growth
It is used in horticulture as a park tree, which forms many growth and color forms
tolerates polluted urban environments as well as hedge trimming
In the past, wood was used for the production of crossbows and also in the production of furniture (marquetry)
it is also consumed by large animals, probably to get rid of intestinal parasites
