Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Taxus baccata in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 1040 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
Today: The current name for this species is Taxus baccata L.
original Latin description
Taxus foliis approximatis.
English translation
Thuja with leaves near [to each other].
| Taxus | Taxus |
| with leaves | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| near [to each other]. | approximatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective approximatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |