Chinese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus fortunei) Price, Benefits and Effects, and How It Differs from Yew

Chinese plum yew (Cephalotaxus fortunei), a traditional Chinese medicine name, also known as Tibetan yew, is the seed, root, or branches and leaves of the plant Cephalotaxus fortunei of the family Cephalotaxaceae. The bark is harvested throughout the year, dried in the sun and used raw; the seeds are picked in autumn; the roots, branches and leaves can be collected in all four seasons, and are used raw or stir-fried until cooked. Sohow much is Chinese plum yew? What benefits and effects does it have? How is it different from yew? Let us take a look below.

I. How much is Chinese plum yew?

The seeds and seedlings of Chinese plum yew are both very cheap; seedlings cost around a few tens of yuan, while for mature Chinese plum yew trees the price is still particularly high. In addition, Chinese plum yew on the market is divided into wild and cultivated types; wild ones are more expensive, but they are scarce in number, and generally it is the cultivated Chinese plum yew that is sold. As for the bark, it is a few dozen yuan per dun. The general market prices for cultivated plants are roughly as follows: trunk diameter 3-4-5-6-7-8 cm; 7-12-22-43-60-100 yuan; trunk diameter 8-10 cm, height 8 m, 150 yuan; trunk diameter 10-13 cm, height 10 m, 330 yuan; trunk diameter 13-15 cm, height 12 m, 560 yuan.

Note: These prices are for reference only! Prices will naturally differ from region to region. For more details on related prices, please refer to what local dealers provide!

II. What benefits and effects does Chinese plum yew have?

1. Economic value: Its branches and leaves are a good Chinese herbal medicine and can treat diseases. Its wood is a fine building material and can be used as timber for bridges and furniture.

2. Medicinal value: Seeds: sweet, astringent, neutral (kills parasites, moistens the lungs); branches and leaves: bitter, astringent, cold (anti-cancer); root bark: for urolithiasis (lung cancer, lymphosarcoma). In plain terms, its main importance is reflected in the two aspects of countering toxins and fighting cancer, and expelling parasites and resolving accumulation.

3. Pharmacological effects: Tests have shown that Chinese plum yew has a clear effect on the treatment of leukemia. Since medicine has not yet found an agent that can completely cure leukemia, the existence of Chinese plum yew is crucial. Chinese plum yew also affects the synthesis of protein and DNA.

4. Medical role: It appears in the pharmacopoeias of China's ethnic minorities. This proves that in ancient times it was one of the indispensable fine medicines for treating certain diseases.

III. How is Chinese plum yew different from yew?

1. Distinguishing by leaves:

① The leaves of Chinese plum yew are arranged spirally, with the bases twisted into two ranks, spreading nearly horizontally, lanceolate-linear, often slightly curved, about 5—8 cm long and 3—4 mm wide, gradually narrowing upward from about the middle, with a tapering long point at the tip and a wedge-shaped base; the upper surface is bright green with a raised midrib, and the lower surface has white stomatal bands with a distinct midrib.

② The leaves of yew are spirally alternate, with the bases twisted into two ranks, linear and slightly curved, 1-2.5 cm long and 2-2.5 mm wide, with slightly recurved leaf margins and tapering leaf tips; the leaf underside has 2 broad yellow-green or gray-green stomatal bands, the midrib is densely covered with tiny raised dots, and the green band at the leaf margin is extremely narrow.

2. Distinguishing by fruit:

① The fruit of Chinese plum yew is elliptic-ovoid, 2—3 cm long, green when unripe and covered with a white bloom, turning purple or purplish-red when ripe.

② The fruit of yew is flat-ovoid, with 2 ridges; the seed is ovoid, and the aril is cup-shaped and red.

3. Distinguishing by branches:

① The winter buds at the branch tips of Chinese plum yew are arranged in three, and in spring the twigs grow in three forks, hence the name Chinese plum yew (three-pointed yew).

② The bark of yew is red-brown or gray-red, thin, and splits off in flakes. The branches are densely growing and red-brown; one-year-old branches are dark green and turn light red-brown after autumn. The leaves on the main branches are arranged spirally, while on the side branches the leaf bases twist so that they are arranged in two irregular ranks to the left and right.