Torreya taxifolia Arn.

A small evergreen tree. It has an unpleasant smell. The crown is open and cone shaped. The bark is brown and thin. It has irregular cracks. The branches spread horizontal. It grows 9 m high and the trunk can be 30 cm across. The needles are 2.5-4 cm long by 3 mm wide. They spread in 2 rows. They have a long sharp tip. They are slightly curved and flattened but rounded on the back. They are dark green above and paler with 2 light bands underneath. The seeds and male cones are on separate trees. The seeds are 2.5-3 cm long. They occur singly and are narrowly oval but more broad above the middle. They have a fleshy dark green outer layer. The inner layer is light red brown. The male or pollen cones are 6 mm long. They are pale yellow and occur singly at the base of the leaves.

Mainly found on steep, deeply shaded limestone slopes, bluffs, and wooded ravines, but not confined to them. It also occurs in forest hammocks and on slopes of ravines cutting through sandhills; at elevations from 15-30 metres

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.