Changes of population structure of Taxus baccata L. during 25 years in protected area [Carpathians, Western Ukraine]

The aim of the study was to assess the present state of the Taxus baccata L. population in the Knyazhdvir Nature Reserve (West Ukraine) and to analyse the population structure changes that had occurred during 25 years. We found the tendency towards population ageing but with relatively numerous young individuals and seedlings. Surprisingly, specimens with bi- or trifurcate trunks (polycormic) were significantly thicker than those with single trunks (monocormic). This attests to some kind of dominance of polycormic specimens over monocormic ones.