What tree is this?

[Squaredy]

Indeed if humans eat the leaves it will apparently stop the heart.  Birds eat the berries with no ill effects, but the red fleshy part is not toxic and they just allow the pip to pass through.

[Vedhoggar]

9 hours ago, Squaredy said:

Indeed if humans eat the leaves it will apparently stop the heart.  Birds eat the berries with no ill effects, but the red fleshy part is not toxic and they just allow the pip to pass through.

I’ve eaten the red fleshy part many times, it’s very sweet but always spit out the pip. 

[daltontrees]

17 hours ago, Bennovet said:

I am a farm vet so see plenty of casualties.. mainly youngish cattle and sheep..

Thank you for confirming. I've only read about it in books and case law.

[Paul Cleaver]

4 hours ago, Vedhoggar said:

I’ve eaten the red fleshy part many times, it’s very sweet but always spit out the pip. 

Do you like living on the edge ?

[Paul Cleaver]

Regarding the leaves, a vet told me many years ago, if they have been cut and left a while, they are more poisonous.

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, Paul Cleaver said:

Regarding the leaves, a vet told me many years ago, if they have been cut and left a while, they are more poisonous.

My understanding is that the leaves become more palatable as they wilt so an animal that wouldn't eat them off the tree will eat the cuttings and the toxic effect is the same.

 

I've read the same is true of ragwort, farm animals generally will not eat it live,  horses however....

 

When ragwort is in a hay meadow it is most dangerous because it will get eaten when dried and in the bale and again remains toxic.

 

I think birds digest the aril of a yew fruit and pass the seed whole but with the coat slightly changed and this aids germination. My mother called this fleshy bit snotty gogs and was eaten as a sweet when sugar was rationed.

 

As a post script of course yew remains toxic even if unpalatable and animals mustn't have access to it, one reason they are found in church yards.

Edited July 17, 2021 by openspaceman
post script added for clarity

[Vedhoggar]

4 hours ago, Paul Cleaver said:

Do you like living on the edge ?

I like the adrenaline rush but it’s safer than bungee jumping … haven’t tried the leaves yet but if I do and my heart stops I’ll let you know. 

[dumper]

The leaves are most defiantly poisonous, a friend used them, 

[Stubby]

44 minutes ago, dumper said:

The leaves are most defiantly poisonous, a friend used them, 

I am intrigued now .....For what did he use them ? 🙂

[Paul in the woods]

On 16/07/2021 at 18:49, Bennovet said:

I am a farm vet so see plenty of casualties.. mainly youngish cattle and sheep..

Thanks for the reply, I was genuinely interested as it's useful to know actual risks. Sorry to hear about your lamb. Round here they tend to throw themselves into the paths of traffic.

 

(Curious to know what breed the lamb is/was).