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...

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 3

LA: Tanacetum vulgare
EN: Tansy
FI: Pietaryrtti
JP: ヨモギギク（タンジー）
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: It has been used as a medicinal herb, but recent study recommend not to ingest. Still can be used for driving insects and pest away by its strong aroma.

LA: Epilobium angustifolium
EN: Fireweed
FI: Maitohorsma
JP: ヤナギラン
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light.Often seen on the side of the load. Relatively good drainage ground but moist. Usually seen in clustered.
Note: Easily spotted by its flower and height. leaves are edible, especially tender new leaves are very much like salad leaves. 






LA: Filipendula ulmaria
EN: Meadow-sweet
FI: Mesiangervo
JP: セイヨウナツユキソウ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light.Often seen on the side of the load. Quite Moist ground but not dump. Usually seen in clustered.
Note: Easily spotted by its flower. ID by leaves; shape and aroma. When smashed, it gives distinctive sweet green tea like aroma. Leaves are edible and will make excellent tea. 



LA: Angelica sylvestris
EN: Wild Angelica
FI: Karhunputki
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light.Often seen on the side of the load. Quite Moist ground but not dump.
Note: Easily spotted by its flower and size. ID by leaves.

LA: Trifolium pratense
EN: Red Clover
FI: Puna-apila
JP: ムラサキツメクサ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. Often seen on the side of the load and yard. Moist ground. Usually clustered. 
Note: Easily spotted by its flower and size.  ID by white bow-shaped marking on leaves. The flower is used for pipe tobacco additive and can be used as tobacco substitute. Could also be used as herbal tea.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 2

LA: Aegopodium podagraria
EN: Goutweed
FI: Vuohenputki
JP: イワミツバ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. moist but not dump ground. Usually seen in clustered.
Note: Strong and fast growing plant by root system. Easy to spot by flower, ID by leaves. Usually dominates the surrounding lower plants. Young leaves are edible.   








LA: Achillea millefolium
EN: Yarrow, Milfoil
FI: Siankärsämö
JP: セイヨウノコギリソウ（ヤロウ）
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. moist but not dump ground. other shorter plants grows around it. 
Note: Easy to spot by flower, ID by leaves. Leaves are used as herb, for tea or sprinkled on food.






LA: Artemisia vulgaris
EN: Mugwort
FI: Pujo
JP: ヨモギ近縁種
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. moist but not dump ground. other shorter plants grows around it. 
Note: Behind the leaves is covered with fine fiver, which is used for making moxa.

LA: Urtica dioica
EN: Nettle
FI: Nokkonen
JP: セイヨウイラクサ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open field with good sun light. moist but not dump ground. other plants grows around it. 
Note: entire plant is covered by tiny hair like stings. Contact on skin will give irritation. Leaves and seeds are edible. Fiver extracted from stem are very strong and used for making cordage and textile in primitive time.

LA: Fragaria vesca
EN: Wild strawberry
FI: Ahomansikka
JP: ワイルドストロベリー
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Sun light reaches, but not well. often seen on side of rode, but have also seen in the forest. moist but not dump ground. other plants of similar height grows around it. 
Note: Fruit is edible and leaves can be made to tea. usually growing in cluster. Easy to ID by leaves, but even easier when fruits are in season.

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 1

As a part of IWG study, I must learn large mount of flora and fauna lives in Finnish wildness. It is must, because if a wilderness guide was asked on the job to ID some plant and he goes "... sorry, I am not familiar with this one...." to most of species, then what would be a point on being a Wilderness guide. 

The course and the examination required us to learn only important ones in Finland, so that is not that bad I though... till I saw the list. It covers the number of 350 species and need to learn them in 10 month, so that will make about 1 - 2 species per day.  But as you can imagine, the best time to learn them are in summer time, so I have even shorter time to experience it to learn.

I love learning the way of nature, but one thing I do not like is to sit on the desk to study. The only time I like sitting on desk is when updating my blog and making knives, so this is my way of moving my lazy study ass to start studying them: I will be posting 5 species per day on my blog!

(From the day 2, I will not include this series in IWG category. If you wanna follow this series, click on the categoriy "Flora & Fauna".)

The day 1

LA: Athyrium filix-femina
EN: Lady Fern
FI: Hiirenporras
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Sun reaches well, but not strongly.  not dump nor dry ground.

LA: Equisetum sylvaticum
EN: Wood horsetail
FI: metsäkorte
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Sun does not reach well. Covered by canopy of taller plants. Usually seen in clustered.
Note: Not to confuse with Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail, Field Horsetail, スギナ), which is edible.






LA: Plantago major
EN: Greater Plantain
FI: Piharatamo
JP: セイヨウオオバコ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Open filed often on the side or the rode where no other plants blocks the sun light. 
Note: Leaves and seeds are edible. Medicinal use for treating snake bite (used in the past), scarring and skin care.






LA: Trifolium medium
EN: Zigzag Clover
FI: Metsäapila
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Good sun light. Growing with other plants of similar height.
Note: Not to confuse with Trifolium pratense (Red Clover, puna-apila, ムラサキツメクサ) ID by white bow-shaped marking on leaves.





LA: Quercus robus
EN: Pigweed
FI: Jauhosavikka
JP: シロザ
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: Very Good sun light. Growing with other plants. Quite dry or good water drainage ground.
Note: Seeds and young leaves are edible but the leaves must be cooked, or might get allergic reaction. Seeds are high in protein, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium.