Thursday, July 25, 2013

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: V
oikukat
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: K
arpalo (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: O
ravanmarja
JP: N/A
Location: Tampere
Surrounding: 
Moist ground. Needle leaf tree forest.
NoteConvallaria majalis like leaf caught my eye.






Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 8

LA: Pteridium aquilinum
EN: Bracken
FI: S
ananjalka
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: N
eedle 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: L
ehmäntatti
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: L
illukka
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.


Monday, July 22, 2013

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 7

LA: Ledum palustre
EN: Labrador Tea
FI: S
uopursu

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: K
anerva

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: P
oimulehdet

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: L
umpeet (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.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Flora and Fauna 5/day - Day 6

LA: Sphagnum
EN: Peat moss (family)
FI: R
ahkasammalet (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: T
upasvilla
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: M
etsäimarre
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.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

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.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

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.