A genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, Taxus, with a fruit containing a single seed surrounded by a scarlet, fleshy, cuplike envelope (aril). The leaves are flat and acicular (needle-shaped), green below, with stalks extending downward on the stem. The only native American species of commercial importance is the rather uncommon Pacific yew (T. brevifolia), a medium-sized tree of the Pacific Coast and northern Rocky Mountain regions. Its wood is sometimes used for poles, paddles, bows, and small cabinetwork.