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Torreya taxifolia
Florida Torreya
Stinking Cedar
Florida Nutmeg
Florida native
Endangered Florida species
U.S. Endangered species
A rare evergreen shrub to small tree of rich wooded ravines in only three counties of Florida: Gadsden, Liberty and Jackson, and extreme southwest Georgia.
Formerly growing up to 10 m tall, the native populations now mainly consist of saplings and sprouts due to a disease that was first recognized in the 1930s. The leaves are linear, glossy-green and needle-like, with sharply pointed tips. The branches are in whorls along the trunk, helping to distinguish this species from Florida yew. The seeds are completely enclosed in a fleshy green glaucous aril with purple stripes, superficially resembling a nutmeg.
Torreya taxifolia is a member of the Taxaceae - Yew family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Aug 07, 2016
