I'm hoping someone might help shed light on what these plants are and whether they're poisonous. Location & time: These grow in dense thickets on the Magdalen Islands (off of Canada's east coast), which we visit every summer. These photos were taken in late August. Scent and culinary use: When broken, these wild leaves smell exactly like my bay laurel plant's leaves (laurus nobilis, an heirloom from my grandfather). Last summer I actually used some of the wild leaves for a soup and we didn't feel sick at all. (I didn't occur to me at the time that they might be toxic!) Two different plants: I took photos of the shrubs and unfortunately now I realize there are actually two different types of plants in the photos, and I can't remember which ones actually had the bay laurel scent. I'm attaching photos of each type as well as an image of both plants in the same shot (fourth photo). As you can see, each type has a different fruit: - one with red berries starting to mature to black (with more pointed, slender leaves with slightly serrated edges), and - one with clustered berries that were still very green at that point (and thick stiff leaves with slightly rounded tips). Any help you can provide in identifying them would be greatly appreciated. :) Many thanks.
Ah, glad Silver surfer thought of that; I was trying to think of what it reminded me of. The fruits should stain your hands and teeth purple. I'm having trouble seeing the leaf shape of the other. In my Laurus nobilis photos, the leaves have a short but definite stalk, and what looks like they will be fruit clusters seem to have a stalk, not as tight to the branch like yours. Thanks for the reminder to go see how the fruits are coming along. There would have to be a male Laurus nobilis in the neighbourhood for there to be laurel fruits.
On the first plant: Thank you so much, Silver Surfer! Yes, that looks like a match. When I return to the islands I will see if I can identify which of the Aronia species it is. (I'm assuming it's probably the black chokeberry.) On the second plant: Wcutler (Wendy), thank you too! I was going crazy in the wee hours of the night trying to figure out what it is. I finally came upon the northern bayberry -- Myrica pensylvanica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia -- and I think this is it. The berries and leaves both seem to match. I also saw some yellow-rumped warblers near these thickets. These birds are apparently the only fans of the waxy bayberries! I was relieved to find this info since the leaves really do have a wonderful aroma and I was hoping they weren't toxic. :) I'll continue to see if I can make additional matches in characteristics and report back. :)
