Tejo de Santa Coloma, Ancient yew tree in Santa Coloma, Spain
The Tejo de Santa Coloma is an ancient yew tree standing beside a parish church in the village of Santa Coloma in Asturias. The tree reaches approximately 14.5 meters in height with a trunk circumference of around 6 meters.
The yew tree is over 1,000 years old and existed long before the current church structure that was built in 1785. The church itself was constructed on the foundations of a religious building from the 14th century.
The tree stands beside a parish church and serves as a gathering place during local celebrations where the community comes together for special occasions. Its proximity to the place of worship makes it central to both religious and social life in the village.
The tree is located in the village of Santa Coloma within the municipality of Allande in Asturias and is easily accessible. The site has been legally protected as a natural monument since 1995.
The wood of this tree contains taxine, a toxic compound that ancient Asturians used to poison their arrows during conflicts with Roman forces. This practice gave them an advantage in regional military encounters.
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