In the virgin forest, although yews are few in number, they all stand firmly on their broad root systems. Even twenty meters away from the main trunk there will still be roots 10 or 20 cm thick clinging firmly onto the rock face. Where the environment is toughest and the ground poorest, making it hard for other species to gain a foothold, the yew finds its best chances of survival.
原始林裡，紅豆杉雖少，卻都落落盤踞，根系寬廣，沿著山壁，離主乾二十公呎遠，仍有一、二十公分粗的支根攀緊岩壁，環境越嚴酷、越惡劣之地，其他物種難出頭，就給了它最佳的生存機會。