Chapter 80: Yew Wands

A yew wand is any wand that is crafted out of wood from a yew tree. More specifically, a yew wand is any wand that has a yew shaft, a yew handle, or both.

Yew Trees

The proper yew for making wands is the European yew (Taxus baccata), which is also called the Common yew. While there are several other species, most are endangered.

A typical European yew tree can reach a height of 30 to 65 feet with a trunk diameter of 3-5 feet. Although it grows very slowly, it is very long-lived and can reach an age of 2000 years. The yew's light brown bark is thin, highly fibrous and strong, and scaly. The flat dark green needle-shaped leaves spread out to either side of the twigs.