Catkin Yew vs Chokecherry

Amentotaxus argotaenia compared with Prunus virginiana

Key Differences

• Catkin Yew is Near Threatened while Chokecherry is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Catkin Yew	Chokecherry
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Coniferophyta (Conifers)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Pinopsida (Conifers)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Pinales (Pines & Allies)	Rosales (Roses & Allies)
Family	Taxaceae	Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Genus	Amentotaxus	Prunus (Cherries & Plums)
Species	Amentotaxus argotaenia	Prunus virginiana

Evolutionary Relationship

Catkin Yew and Chokecherry share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Plantae. (Plants)

Conservation Status

Catkin Yew

NT — Near Threatened

Chokecherry

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Catkin Yew	Chokecherry
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Catkin Yew

Habitat

Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

Chokecherry

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (14 countries) and North America (United States).

Catkin Yew

The Catkin Yew (Amentotaxus argotaenia) is a species in the genus Amentotaxus. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

Chokecherry

The Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a widespread, suckering shrub or small tree in the family Rosaceae, native throughout most of North America from Alaska and the Yukon south to Georgia and Baja California, with naturalised populations in parts of Europe. It produces clusters of small white flowers in elongated racemes in spring, followed by dark red to near-black drupes (chokecherries) that are astringent and bitter when raw due to high tannin content but become palatable after cooking and are widely used for jams, jellies, syrups, and wines. The common name chokecherry alludes to the choking sensation caused by eating unripe or raw fruit. All parts of the plant except the ripe flesh contain cyanogenic glycosides — primarily amygdalin — which can release hydrogen cyanide and are toxic to humans and livestock if consumed in quantity. The species is highly adaptable, colonising roadsides, forest edges, disturbed ground, and riparian areas across a wide range of soil types and climates. It is an important wildlife plant throughout its range, providing food for numerous birds (particularly thrushes, waxwings, and grouse) and mammals (bears, deer, raccoons). The IUCN lists it as Not Evaluated. Chokecherry is also an important cultural plant for many Indigenous peoples of North America.