I know what this is....but

[Magicman]

 

 
It is a Cherrybark Oak getting a hug from and Elm.   

But what is this:
 

 
The trunk of an 8" tree.
 

 
The foliage that stays year round.
 

 
The fruit (berries).
 

  
An individual leaf showing little saw teeth on the edge. 

[Den-Den]

I believe that is called a Cherry Laurel here.  They are fairly common in my area but an 8" trunk is a good one.  The wood is pretty but very unstable.

[caveman]

Prunus caroliniana (Cherry Laurel or Carolina Laurel Cherry).  Most of the ones here have spiral grain and smoother bark.  The leaves and twigs smell a lot like cherry cola.

Do any of you cook on it?  I burn a lot of black cherry when smoking meat but have never tried Cherry Laurel.

[Magicman]

Yes Dennis, that trunk is the largest that I have ever seen.  Even one 4" is unusual to see.

I have always known these plants to be in this particular area, but never thought to ask what they were.  Now I can look in the book without reading the entire book.   

[Magicman]

Yup, my pictures and the book's illustrations look identical. Carolina Laurelcherry.  The only caution that I see is that injured or wilted leaves contain "hydrocyanic acid" which can be fatal when ingested by humans and most mammals; young leaves are browsed by deer with no problems.

I was surprised to not see any mention of the fact that it retains it's leaves year round.

Thanks for the identification.   

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

I've got one in my back yard that's roughly 12" dbh...

Herb