European Yew

looks like: dark evergreen needled shrub or tree with bright red fleshy berries containing seeds

where: cemetery hedges, formal gardens, ornamental landscaping, golf courses worldwide

toxic part: everything except the red fleshy aril (the berry pulp) — seeds, needles, bark, wood

what happens: taxine alkaloids cause cardiac arrest. famously fast — sometimes death before symptoms

timeline: can be sudden death, sometimes only minor GI symptoms before collapse

common mistake: kids eating the bright red berries (the pulp itself is harmless but they bite into the seed). horses and livestock dying from clippings tossed into pastures

emergency: poison control + ER, but historically very hard to treat once cardiac symptoms start

historical note: julius caesar wrote about it being used for suicide in gaul