Flora Norvegica
After the ice retreated from the Nordic region, there has been a parallel development in the migration of plants and people. Some plants might have come through wind, sea or animals, while some by intentional importation by people. Nonetheless, there is still a lot unknown. Among many researchers, some are involved in tracking the history of the plant use and cultivation in viking period. One such effort is a live plant lab that is exhibited in the Oslo botanical gardens named viking garden. It exhibits 150 species that were commonly used in the viking period.
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| Flora Norvegica: Part 1. Tab. 2: Cicuta virosa - cell mustard. Shield plant family, Apiaceae . The stem is hollow and the rhizome is a swollen tuber with air-filled hurom. Sea buckthorn is very toxic. It contains the highly toxic substance cicutoxin, an antispasmodic that acts on the central nervous system and can cause death within 1-3 hours if ingested. Sea buckthorn was used in ancient Greece for executions and causes a violent and painful death with convulsions. |
The first scientific description of the Norwegian flora was published in the book 'Flora Norvegica' by Bishop Johan Ernst Gunnerus. It was published in latin in two parts, first one in 1766 and the second one in 1774. Gunnerus collected plants during 1762-1772 and these plants can be seen at the herbarium at NTNU science museum known as Grunnerusherbariet. There is also a caltalogue of 2800 objects. Gunnerus mentioned the Norwegian names of these plants in different dialects as well as some of the Saami names.
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| Photo: Linda Fredriskberg, Anno Domkirkeodden Herbal book from Renaissance period, from Anderson collection |
Another notable book about the norwegian plants is 'De lærdeste lægers urtegaarde' by Ernst Bjerke. It presents the collection of the oldest scientific books from 1483 to 2010. They are found in the Anderson collection at the Oslo Cathedral school. Some of the books from the 14th century are handwritten, and some of them consists of some plant parts. Some of them include formulas, recipes and pharmaceutical knowledge of healing. They provide answers about plant use in the viking period, medieval period up until today.
References:
Gunnerus, Flora Norvegica, 1766-1774
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