Description
Europe’s most ancient species of tree, the yew has many unique characteristics: it is a ‘conifer’ without resin or cones, and though it has an extraordinarily low rate of photosynthesis, it can grow where other plants wither and die. It was in the Palaeolithic Era that humans were first struck by the yew’s regenerative powers and began to associate it with concepts of life, death, the afterlife and eternity. Yew trees can be found at the sacred sites of Native Americans and Buddhists, and Shinto shrines in Japan, as well as in Christian churchyards, where they became a symbol of the Resurrection. Now available in paperback, this richly illustrated cultural and natural history includes the latest scientific discoveries about a most remarkable tree.
Publisher: Reaktion Books
ISBN: 9781789147216
Number of pages: 208
Dimensions: 216 x 138 mm
