2007-10-15 12:00:08 · 5 answers · asked by FRED S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
i hope not, i use them on a regular basis, cooking
2007-10-15 12:07:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Chef I really hope not! As the previous answer stated, some laurels are poisonous but the bay tree is not. Otherwise I would have a lot of blood on my hands!
2007-10-15 22:03:12 · answer #2 · answered by witherz1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The spice? Not as such, no.
I too had always been told not to eat the leaves used in seasoning, but hadn't ever looked it up- silly, as I've the 1342 page Toxic Plants of Torth America sitting on a bookshelf (yes, I know it isn't native, but so much isn't).
Lauraceae family is p. 743-750, and includes avacadoes, cinammmon, sassafras, camphor, bay laurel, et. al. Of the 2000 to 3000 species, it lists only a handful of plants with toxic qualities (including a toxic avacado).
This uni site: http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/laurel.htm, essentailly says that there are many plants commonly called "laurel." Many of them are toxic, but Laurus nobilis (the species used in cooking as "bay leaves") isn't one of them.
2007-10-15 21:41:15 · answer #3 · answered by BotanyDave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as in the "bay leaf" in the spice rack?
2007-10-15 19:03:58 · answer #4 · answered by w451 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definetly not. they are used to add flavor to pastas and soups. :)
2007-10-15 19:40:26 · answer #5 · answered by bluelagoon79 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋