Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 11

LA: Suillus luteus
EN: Slippery Jack
FI: Voitatti
JP: ヌメリイグチ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Needle leaf tree forest. Moist ground. covered by canopy, but still have enough sun light. 
Note: ID by pileus. top is slimy and the back is butter like yellow, look like sponge. Excellent edible mushroom.

LA: Lycopodiaceae annotinum
EN: Stiff Ground-pine
FI: Riidenlieko
JP: ヌメリイグチ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Needle leaf tree forest. Moist ground. well covered by canopy.
Note: Clusters large and easy to spot. one in the picture has no flower on tip, but it makes one look like pine-corn. this can be used for fire lighting (by flame) as it contains oil.

LA: Juniperus communis
EN: Juniper
FI: Kataja
JP: セイヨウネズ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Needle leaf tree forest. Moist ground. Covered by canopy.
Note: In Finland, commonly, this tree does not grow high. About 2m height is highest have seen. Commonly about hip to chest height. The wood is very tough and aromatic. used for small wood crafting and fuming. wood is also used for smoke cooking because of aromatic property. Berries are also used for as herb for cooking meet and has medicinal use as well.

LA: Convallaria majalis
EN: Lily-of-the-Valley
FI: Kielo
JP: スズラン
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light but little shadowy. 
Note: Makes large cluster and easy to spot by flower and berry. ID by the orientation of flower or berries and leaves. Entire plant is toxic. 
by the way, this flora is the flower of the town where I grew up. 

LA: Stellaria
EN: Chickweeds
FI: Tähtimöt
JP: ハコベ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. Moist ground.
Note: Stellaria, Chickweeds, Tähtimöt, ハコベ is a common name of Stellaria familly. There are several exists in Finland and the one in the picture is Stellaria media. Small plant but easy to spot as it grows fast in cluster and covers the ground like ground ivy.  I found that usually this is the plant grows first after soil is exposed on vegetable garden. Edible like salad. Japan has spring tradition of cooking this plant in rice porridge.

この夏作った数本 - Few knives made this summer

この夏は意外とナイフなど色々作る事が出来ました。自分用、試作品、注文そして販売用。購入してくださった方々、本当にありがとうございます。
今後の参考にもなるかな？と思いますので、この夏作った物を簡単に紹介します。

Seems I have made variety of knives this summer. For me, for prototype, order and for sale. So, I would like to introduce the ones I made this summer, for the future reference.



*Spec: N/Aと表示されているのは、完成後に計り忘れたものです。

*Spec: N/A means, I forgot to  measurement.

切り出し小刀（左利き用）
Kiridashi-kogatana (left handed)
Spec: N/A

IWGナイフ
IWG Knife
Spec: Blade Length 230mm /  Blade width 30mm / Blade thickness 6mm

マキリ風ネックナイフ（ネックナイフですがベルトキャリー用に作りました）

Makiri neck knife (Necker, but made to carri on belt.)

Spec: N/A

このナイフを作るのは二回目ですが、今回はベルト用に根付を付けました。ブロンズ板から鏨で透かし彫りです。

Making this knife is a 2nd time, but I have added new type of work as a belt hanging system. it is called Netuke. Raven is curved out by chisel.

洋式髭剃り
Straight razor
Spec: Blade Length 38mm (cutting edge) / Scale length 103mm
バネ鋼のブレードに鹿の角のスケールです。
spring steel blade with Japanese deer antler scale.  

長期のトレッキングなどに持っていったら便利かな？と思い作りました。
I thought would be nice to have something like this for long wilderness trip.

左から＞水筒、カービングナイフ、スプーンナイフ、プーッコ
Form left: Water bottle, carving knife, Spoon knife, Puukko

高炭素鋼ブレードとリンゴハンドル
High carbon steel blade with apple wood handle.
販売用に作り、即売しました。ありがとうございます。
Made this for sale and sold. Thank you.

Spec: Blade Length 55.8mm /  Handel length 105mm / Blade thickness 2.5mm
高炭素鋼ブレードとリンゴハンドル。シースは鹿骨を使い、サーメ風に仕上げました。
High carbon steel blade with apple wood handle. Sheath is made from deer bone and made in to saami style.
ナイフとシースは良いのですが、皮紐が気に入らないので、販売用に作りましたが自分用にする予定です。
The knife and sheath are fine, but I am not happy with the lanyard. Made this for sale but I am thinking on keeping this one.

Spec: Blade Length 95mm /  Handel length 100mm / Blade thickness 3.9mm
高炭素工ブレードと白樺ハンドル。
High carbon steel blade with birch wood handle.
販売用に作り、即売しました。ありがとうございます。
Made this for sale and sold. Thank you.

とてもシンプルなプーッコで、私が一番好きなタイプです。ヒルトとポンメルはアルミ。第二次大戦の前・中の頃のプーッコに良く使われた素材です。この時代の物は、トンミ・プーッコにみられるようなポンメルもあり、薄い菱形の突起が多くみられますので、その様に再現してみました。
Very simple puukko and my favorite style. Using aluminium on hilt and pommel. Puukko made around WW2 time, often uses aluminium. Also he diamond shape end or/and pommel, so I have incorporated that style.

レザー水筒
Leather water bottle.
Capacity: 850 ml
レザークラフトの幅を広げたくて作ってみました。
Wanted to expand what I can do with leather.

紹介しなかった物も数点ありますが、この夏完成させたクラフト品の紹介でした。
So, here are not all, but most of my craft work done in this summer.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 10

LA: Paris quadrifolia
EN: Herb paris
FI: Sudenmarja
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Moist ground. Under thick canopy of broad leaf forest.
Note: Easy to spot and ID by the orientation of leves and one large dark berry on tip of of stem. Entire plant is toxic. Not edible but has been used as a medicinal plant in middle ages. 

LA: Actaea spicata
EN: Baneberry 
FI: Konnanmarja 
JP: ルイヨウショウマ属
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Moist ground. Under thick canopy of broad leaf forest.
Note: Easy to spot and ID by large bunch of berry. Not edible as the english name suggest.

LA: Nuphar
EN: Yellow Water-lilies
FI: Ulpukat (sukuna)
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Shallow water with muddy bottom.
Note: Easy to spot and ID by large cluster and yellow flower. 

LA: Fomes fomentarius

EN: Tinder Fungus
FI: Taulakääpä
JP: ツリガネタケ属 
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Attached on the birch tree (dead or alive).
Note: Easy to spot but could be difficult ID correctly as there are many similar Fomes. Fomes fomentarius generally have flat bottom side. As the name suggest from the amadou of fungi, can produce excellent finder for flint and steel fire.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 9

LA: Cetraria islandica
EN: Iceland lichen
FI: Iso hirvenjäkälä
JP: エイランタイ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Moist ground. Needle leaf tree forest.
Note: Quite easy to ID by the shape, which resenbles moose antler. Edible by processing it to extract starch. Not prepared correctly, it works as laxative.





LA: Taraxacium
EN: Dandelions
FI: Voikukat
JP: タンポポ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. 
Note: very easy to ID but leaves and flower. also it makes large cluster. entire plant is edible. Flower and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Stem and root are better eaten cooked.




LA: Vaccinium oxycoccos
EN: Cranberry
FI: Karpalo (Iso Karpalo)
JP: ツルコケモモ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: On swamp where covered by sphagnum.
Note: ID by berry and vine like stem. Berries are edible and has medicinal use of stomach acid disorder.



LA: Calla palustris
EN: Bog Arum
FI: Vehka
JP: ヒメカイウ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: in the very shallow water or swamp.
Note: very easy to spot and ID by large cluster, leave and seed. Entire pland is toxic. Saponin in the seed, Oxalic acid in lest of plant. but by properly processing it can remove toxins from root and can be eaten.


LA: Maianthemum bifolium
EN: May Lily
FI: Oravanmarja
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Moist ground. Needle leaf tree forest.
Note: Convallaria majalis like leaf caught my eye.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 8

LA: Pteridium aquilinum
EN: Bracken
FI: Sananjalka
JP: ワラビ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Moist ground.
Note: very easy to ID in spring time when the leaves are still curled. ID by shape of leaves and orientation.  Poisonous but edible by prepared by salt or soda.  Curled sprout is delicacy in Japan and the can extract starch from root.

LA: Lactarius rufus
EN: Rufous milk-cap/Red-hot Milky
FI: Kangasrousku
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Needle leaf tree forest, The ground is covered with spagnum and well moist.

Note: When cut, it gives milky sap, this helps ID this mushroom from similar poisonous one. Edible, but recommended to boil once because of bitterness. Good for storing.

LA: Leccinum scabrum

EN: Brown Birch Bolete
FI: Lehmäntatti
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Needle leaf tree forest. The ground is covered with spagnum and well moist
Note: very easy to spot because of its size. ID by back of pileus and stem. back of pileus has ivory color fine sponge. The stem is white but covered with black web like texture. Good edible mushroom.

LA: Rubus saxatilis
EN: Stone Bramble
FI: Lillukka
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open filed, but close to the forest tree line. Moist ground.
Note: Easy to spot when berries are in season. Edible berry.

LA: Typha latifolia
EN: Common Reedmace /  Common Cattail
FI: Leveä osmankäämi
JP: ガマ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Swamp or good water supply. 
Note: Easy to spot because of its height and usually clustered also in late summer, it makes large spike on tip. This spike is a compressed floss. stem and root are edible raw or cooked.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 7

LA: Ledum palustre
EN: Labrador Tea
FI: Suopursu
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Damp ground to swamp. but closer to the tree.
Note: very easy to spot and ID by standing out cluster and leaves. also the leaves has distinctive aroma when mashed. This has/had several medicinal usages in old time. One of them is natural anti-moth for clothing. In the new world, this is used for making tea, but one is Finland is poisonous, so not recommended to use as such.

LA: Calluna vulgaris
EN: Heather, Ling
FI: Kanerva
JP: カルーナ属
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Damp ground to swamp.
Note: very easy to spot and ID by standing out cluster. This plant is quite dry and easily burns. but because the plant is very springy and dry, it makes very good bedding material. (<- Thanks to Weekend Woodsman for this tip!)

LA: Alchemilla
EN: Lady´s Mantle
FI: Poimulehdet
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Moist ground. above is covered by heavy canopy.
Note: low height plant but easy to spot by leaves.

LA: Nymphaceae
EN: White Water-lilies
FI: Lumpeet (sukuna)
JP: スイレン科
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the small lake (pond) closer to the shore. The water has muddy bottom.
Note: Very easy to spot because of the large leaves and white flower on the water surface.


LA: Nymphaceae

EN: Lingonberry / Cowberry

FI: Puolukka
JP: コケモモ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the forest, moist ground. 

Note: Easy to spot in the season by red berry and the plant makes large cluster. Berries are edible and leaves can be made to tea and has medicinal property. Berries are also known as natural preservative and used to store water.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 6

LA: Sphagnum
EN: Peat moss (family)
FI: Rahkasammalet (sukuna)
JP: ミズゴケ属
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the forest with good canopy of other plants. Damp to swampy ground.
Note: Probably the most important Moss in the forest and has commodity value of as gardening material and as peat. It has a healing property because Penicillium lives in this moss. has many usage because of healing property and the moss can hold great quantity of water in its cells.

LA: Rubus chamaemorus
EN: Cloudberry
FI:　Lakka
JP: ホロムイイチゴ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the forest with good canopy of trees. Swampy ground.
Note: Edible and highly valued wild berry. little difficult to spot but easy to ID by its large leaves and it it is in season, by berry. the berry matures in following color sages; White - Red (dark orange) - Yellow. 

LA: Vaccinium myrtillus
EN: Bilberry
FI: Mustikka
JP: セイヨウスノキ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the forest with good canopy of trees. Moist to swampy ground.
Note: Edible berry and leaves. Very easy to spot and ID by its large and dense cluster and in its season, by berry. This plant is often called "Blueberry" but it actually is a different plant.

LA: Eriophorum vaginatum
EN: Hare's-tail Cotton-grass
FI: Tupasvilla
JP: ワタスゲ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the forest with some canopy of trees. Swamp ground.
Note: Very easy to spot and ID by its cotton like seed on tip of very thin stem. This cotton like part was once used like cotton, for filling and making garments.

LA: Gymnocarpium dryopteris
EN: Oak Fern
FI: Metsäimarre
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: In the forest with good canopy of trees. Moist ground. 
Note: Quite small fern. ID by size and leaves. the high of stem is about 10 to 15 cm. Single main stem splits in 3 ways to hold fern leaves.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 5

LA: Anthriscus sylvestris
EN: Cow Parsley, Keck
FI: Koiranputki
JP: シャク（ヤマニンジン）
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field. Moist ground. 
Note: English name has "Parsley" but the leaves do look more like of carrot. Edible plant. leaves and stem are good before the flower. Root is also edible but flavor becomes stronger towards winter. easily confused with Myrkkykatko(Conium maculatum) and Hukanputki(Aethusa cynapium), which both are poisonous.

LA: Oxalis acetosella
EN: Wood-sorrel
FI: Käenkaali
JP: コミヤマタカバミ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field but covered with large tree canopy. Moist ground. Usually seen in large cluster. not much other plant mixed with in the cluster.
Note: Edible plant. when bite a leave, give sourness. But the plant contains some oxalic acid, which prevents the digestion, it is somewhat toxic. 

LA: Picea abies
EN: Norway Spruce
FI: Kuusi
JP: オウシュウトウヒ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Forest or wood land. Moist ground. Usually the habitat is segregated.Note: One of the most common trees in Finland. Tree has many usage as edible and medicinal. Also a wood is commercially variable. 

LA: Pinus sylvestris
EN: Scots Pine
FI: Mänty
JP: ヨーロッパアカマツ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Forest or wood land. Moist but dryer ground than of Spruce. Usually the habitat is segregated.Note: One of the most common trees in Finland. Tree has many usage as edible and medicinal. Also a wood is commercially variable.  The color of bark changes brighter as go up higher.

LA: Quercus robus
EN: English Oak
FI: Tammi
JP: ヨーロッパナラ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Forest or wood land. Moist ground. 

Note: The distinctive shape of leaves are easy to recognize. Wood from tree are very tough and would make premium wood material for furniture and so on. The tree produces acorn and are valuable food souses to small mammals and birds.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 4

LA: Tanacetum vulgare
EN: Knotgrass
FI: Pihatatar
JP: ミチヤナギ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light.Often seen on the side of the load. Relatively dry or good drainage ground. Usually seen in clustered.
Note: Edible plant, used in Vietnam for hot pot and soup.






LA: Trollius europaeus
EN: Globe Flower
FI: Kullero
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Enough sun light. Moist ground. Usually seen clustered. on the side of the load.

Note: Easily spotted by large cluster of yellow flower.

LA: Rubus idaeus
EN: Rasberry
FI: Vadelma
JP: ヨーロッパキイチゴ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Enough sun light. edge of forest / Woods. Moist ground. Usually seen clustered.
Note: Easily spotted by large cluster and its berry. Fruits are edible and the leaves can be made to tea.






LA: Salix
EN: Willows
FI: pajut (sukuna)
JP: ヤナギ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Enough sun light. Well moist or dump ground. Usually seen clustered by the water.
Note: Strong as fast growing tree. Leaved, bark and sam has medicinal usage. act as antipyretic and analgesic. the bark also makes strong cordage and the stem are used often on basket weaving.





Sorry, only 4 today. Could not spot one more from the list...