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Spring greens from the Nordic pantry

Published 18 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Wood sorrel takes many Swedes back to childhood.
8 minute read

Many people remember the sour taste of wood sorrel, or how dewdrops filled the grass on the lawn in the morning, but over the years they have forgotten that these plants are actually edible. In the forest, on the lawn, and even in the city, there are lots of herbs and other plants that can be eaten during the green season in spring.

However, it is important to remember that Nordic plants can often be poisonous, so you should never eat anything you are unsure about.

The darkness is receding and light is returning to the Swedish landscape. With light, sun, and more warmth, the earth is slowly thawing and the leaves are spreading their buds. The green leaves are not only a delight that brings spring feelings, but also contain a lot of edible plants. In Sweden, there is plenty to eat in nature besides the well-known lingonberries and the wide variety of mushrooms that attract people to the forest. There are also weeds, trees, bushes, and flowers. In this article, we take a look at some of the edible herbs and leaves of spring.

In Sweden, the forest is there for everyone through the right of public access, but you should always respect both the landowner and nature. For some things, such as trees, you need the landowner’s permission to pick, and you should not pick more than you will use. It is also important to think carefully when you are in the forest, as it is easy to get lost.

Many edible plants are found not only in forests but also in cities, but you should always avoid picking them along roads due to exhaust fumes. If necessary, you can use Stans Flora to learn how to recognize different plants. It is important to remember never to eat anything you are not sure about, as there are many poisonous plants in Sweden that can have disastrous consequences if ingested. Read up, look carefully, and never guess.

Blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Harvest: May to June

Most people know that blueberries are edible, but not everyone knows that the leaves are edible too. Blueberries themselves are very healthy, but the leaves also have many beneficial qualities. Among other things, they contain flavonoids, which act as effective antioxidants, as well as neomyrtelin, which is said to be good for type 2 diabetes, according to Läkeörter.se. The leaves contain vitamin C and chromium.

The best way to use blueberry leaves is to make a decoction, i.e., tea. Fresh leaves are perfectly fine to use, but you can also dry them and use them during the winter. Blueberry leaf tea is said to counteract diarrhea and stomach problems, as well as have blood sugar-lowering properties and be good for urinary tract problems.

Pick the leaves before the berries appear. Photo: Ann-Sophie Qvarnström/Public Domain

Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Harvested: April to November

The plant has a slender stem with white flowers and grows in meadows. Along the stalk there are fruit pods that are slightly heart-shaped. It is one of the most common weeds and is found throughout Sweden, except in the mountains.

You can eat the whole plant, except the root. It is said that the shepherd’s purse was already used as food in the Stone Age.

The fruit pods in particular have a taste reminiscent of ginger and mustard. The young leaves can be used in salads, or they can be dried and used later in cooking. One tip is to make spiced butter from the unripe fruit pods.

The shepherd’s purse is said to have a hemostatic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive effect, making it effective in wound care. It can be dried and powdered, for example, and then used and sprinkled directly on wounds to stop bleeding.

It is also high in iron, calcium, vitamin K and vitamin C. It can be confused with the field pennycress, but it is also edible. It is also said to have been used against chills in the past.

Avoid eating it during pregnancy and if you have problems with kidney stones or kidney disease.

Shepherd’s purse. Photo: Andreas Rockstein/CC BY-SA 2.0

Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)

Harvested: April to October

This classic herb likes to grow in wetter woods and has three heart-shaped leaves that resemble clover. Both flowers and leaves can be eaten. Its flowers, however, are similar to those of wood anemone, which is poisonous to eat, but the difference is that wood anemone flowers have white seed stalks and pink veins. Both also flower around the same time in May. So look carefully to make sure it’s not an accidentally picked-up wood anemone, especially if children are around.

The wood sorrel is often called the barometer of the forest because it sheds its leaves when it rains.

The herb has a sour taste, which comes from the poison oxalic acid. However, eating foods with oxalic acid is not toxic, but you should not eat large amounts (which is difficult to do with resin acid). If you suffer from kidney stones, you should not eat anything with oxalic acid in it. The acidic taste is suitable as a flavor enhancer in sauces or salads, for example. It is also good in desserts or mixed in water for a mealtime drink. Or why not go for a snack on your walk?

It grows throughout Sweden, except in northernmost Norrland.

Wood sorrel. Photo: Tero Karppinen/CC BY 2.0

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Harvested: May to July

Perhaps as a child you used to pick lady’s mantle from the lawn and drink the morning dew that collected, if nothing else, the common plant is probably recognized by most people. It is found throughout Sweden and is common, in addition to lawns, also in meadows. It can also be found in the forest.

The leaves are bowl-shaped and it has small yellow-green flowers.

The name Alchemilla comes from the belief that the water droplet formed in the plant’s bowl was an important ingredient for alchemists.

Traditionally, the plant has been used as a medicinal herb and is said to be good to drink during pregnancy. It is also said to have been used after childbirth as the tannins in the plant can help tighten the skin, so it has also been used as a compress for wound healing. For this reason, it is also said to be beneficial to drink lady’s mantle decoction during heavy menstruation.

It has also been called “a woman’s best friend” as it is said to be good for facilitating regular menstruation and also relieving menopausal symptoms.

It also contains essential oils and saponins, which together with the tannins can prevent chapped skin.

Both leaves and flowers can be eaten. Cut off the leaves at the base and the plant will continue to grow. Dry and use as a tea, or as a salad topper. Make a decoction and then use as an astringent toner.

Lady’s mantle. Photo: Alexandre Dulaunoy/CC BY-SA 2.0

Birch leaves (Betula spp.)

Harvested: May to June

The white-black tree is easy to recognize. In spring, the leaves start to bud on the tree and this is when they are best to pick. Birch leaves are useful both internally and externally.

Birch leaves have long been used to give the body an extra boost after winter. The leaves can be used as a tea and provide a range of benefits to the body. Among other things, they are said to be high in vitamin C, but also to help support the kidneys and clear waste products from the body. The leaves are also said to be anti-viral and anti-inflammatory, and good for rheumatism.

Furthermore, you can also make an infusion of the leaves and use it as a toner, which is supposed to help clearer skin. It is also said to be good for eczema. Why not take a bath with birch leaves to benefit the whole body?

If you want to try a natural shampoo or household cleanser, mix a liter of water with a deciliter of fresh leaves. Leave for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. After that, you can strain the leaves and it should have created a form of soap. You can use this for your hair or to scrub with.

Photo: Bengt Littorin/ CC BY 2.0

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and whitetop (Lamium album)

Harvested: March to August

Stinging nettle is found throughout Sweden, grows a little everywhere and should be picked with gloves because it burns. It can be picked as a shoot but also as a fully grown plant.

The plant is very rich in vitamin C and is relatively rich in protein. It also contains iron, calcium, phosphorus, silicon, manganese and sulphur.

However, do not pick stinging nettles on nitrogen-fertilized soil or near manure gardens. Nettles have the ability to store nitrates which can be harmful to eat in large quantities.

It can be used as spinach in hot dishes and can also be dried and used as tea. The seed pods can also be picked and dried, which can be added to muesli for extra energy. Nettle soup is also a popular dish.

The white dead-nettle is very similar to the stinging nettle, except that it has white or red flowers (red thistle). However, it has no stinging hairs. It’s also a very common plant and you can eat both its leaves and flowers. Making tea from the flowers is said to be particularly good and tastes sweet and toffee-like. It is common for children to suck nectar from the flowers.

Stinging nettle and white dead-nettle. Photo: Andreas Rockstein/CC BY-SA 2.0

Water avens (Geum rivale)

Harvested: April to October

The herb is said to have gotten its Swedish name humleblomster (bumblebee flower) because the flower mimics the hindquarters of a bumblebee. The flower grows throughout the country and is part of the Dianthus genus, which means it can be confused with carnation, which is not poisonous. Carnation, on the other hand, has yellow flowers, while hop flowers are more purple-brown in color. It usually grows in wetter areas. The root, which is best picked in spring, has a sweetish flavor and can be used to make a chocolatey drink by peeling the root and placing it in a saucepan filled with water. Bring to the boil, then remove from the pan and leave to stand for 20 to 30 minutes, then strain out the roots and add sugar and hot milk. The shoots can be eaten fresh and the flowers are great for decorating salads, for example. The leaves can be added to a soup or used in stews.

Traditionally, a decoction of the root has been used internally for chills, fever, diarrhea, and intestinal and stomach issues. Externally, it has been used to treat various skin conditions such as blotchy skin, acne, and freckles. In folk medicine, the root has also been used for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and astringent properties.

Water avens. Photo:Thibault Lefort/Public Domain

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Bats “surf” the winds to power their migration

Published today 15:21
– By Editorial Staff
2 minute read

Bats use the warm fronts of storms to “surf” as they migrate, research shows. This way, they use less energy and can fly longer distances.

he greater noctule bat is Sweden’s largest bat species, with a wingspan of 30 to 45 centimeters. The species also lives in Finland. Like birds, bats migrate thousands of kilometers annually across North America, Europe, and Africa. Now, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPI-AB) have studied 71 greater noctule bats during their approximately 1,600-kilometer-long spring migration across the European continent. Using sensors, the researchers were able to measure the bats’ activity levels as well as the air temperatures in which they were flying.

The researchers discovered that the bats often paused during their flights but could travel as far as 400 kilometers in a single night breaking the previous distance record for the species. The bats interrupted their migration flights with frequent stops, likely because they needed to feed continuously.

– Unlike migratory birds, bats don’t gain weight in preparation for migration, explains Dina Dechmann of MPI-AB, one of the authors of the study, in a press release. They need to refuel every night, so their migration has a hopping pattern rather than a straight shot.

Furthermore, an interesting pattern emerged in the bats’ migration. On some nights, more bats chose to fly than on others, which turned out to be weather-dependent. The bats began flying on nights when air pressure dropped and temperatures rose in other words, when storms were approaching. The sensors on the transmitters measuring activity levels also showed that the bats used less energy when flying on these warm, windy nights. After further analysis, it became clear that the bats were using the warm winds during storms to “surf”.

– They were riding storm fronts, using the support of warm tailwinds, says Edward Hurme, a researcher at MPI-AB. It was known that birds use wind support during migration, and now we see that bats do too.

The results of the study are important for the survival of bats, say researchers. Migrating bats are threatened by human activities, especially wind turbines which cause many collisions. Knowing where and when bats migrate can help prevent deaths.

– We can be stewards of bats, helping wind farms to turn off their turbines on nights when bats are streaming through, says Hurme.

Swedes earn money clearing invasive species

Biodiversity

Published 28 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Large-leaved lupines are beautiful - but highly invasive.
1 minute read

Through a mobile game, individuals can “play” by heading out into nature, removing invasive plants, and even getting paid for their efforts. This year, seven Swedish municipalities are testing the game.

The Crowdsorsa mobile game has been used in Finland for three consecutive years, where last year it removed invasive plants from 7000 observations. It is also available in Canada.

This year, the municipalities of Hagfors, Örebro, Sunne, Karlsborg, Lilla Edet, Tanum and Falun are trying it out. The idea is that individuals find invasive plants, either via the map in the app or by themselves, remove them and get paid. As proof, they must film before and after clearing.

The total budget for this year in Sweden is SEK 126,000 (€11,600), which individuals can “play” for. At most, you can earn SEK 200 (€18.5) per hour, with the municipality responsible for paying out the reward.

“Fun way to work”

Last year, it was also successfully used in Hagfors and Örebro. In Hagfors, a total of 17 different teams played.

– The players did a great job! We think it’s a fun way to work with invasive alien species and an effective way to reach the public – and especially young people – with knowledge about invasive species, says municipal ecologist Katarina Karlsson in Hagfors municipality to Natursidan.

Invasive species often spread quickly and can displace native species, which in turn can damage the ecosystem. The game starts already in June, where, among other things, large-leaved lupine, Himalayan balsam and Canadian goldenrod will be removed.

Lion population growing in India

Published 25 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
An Asiatic lion cub waiting for food.
2 minute read

Asian lions have seen a strong resurgence in India in recent years. A new count shows that the population has increased by over 30 percent in just five years.

The number of Asian lions in the state of Gujarat in western India has risen from 674 individuals in 2020 to 891, according to the latest official count (May 10–13, 2025), reports The Independent. This represents an increase of 32 percent.

The lions live mainly in and around Gir National Park – the only area in the world where this subspecies of lion exists in the wild.

The new figure was recently announced by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

The number of lions in the state has gradually increased not just because of favorable geography and climate, but due to our government’s consistent and careful approach to wildlife conservation, said Patel.

Growing population

Over the past decade, the population has grown steadily, and lions have now spread to eleven districts in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, where they can be observed in forests, grasslands, agricultural areas, and even coastal areas.

Of the 891 individuals, 196 are adult males, 330 are adult females, 140 are young adults (sub-adults), and 225 are cubs, according to state government figures.

Gujarat attributes the success to several efforts: regular monitoring, enhanced veterinary care, water and feed resources in the wild, and programs to reduce conflicts between humans and predators.

Drones, sensors, and camera traps are also used in an extensive monitoring network.

Vulnerability remains

Despite the increase, however, the lions remain vulnerable. The species is classified as vulnerable on the international red list, and threats include genetic inbreeding, diseases that can spread rapidly in the densely concentrated population, and fires and floods in the Gir Forest.

Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Secretary for Forest and Environment in Gujarat, explains.

The holding capacity of national park and sanctuaries will be increased by intervention and habitat improvement. There is still scope of increasing the holding capacity and the forest and environment department is working in that direction.

Gujarat has previously opposed proposals to transplant parts of the population to other parts of India, including the state of Madhya Pradesh, which has led to debate within the country’s environmental movement.

Asian lions (Panthera leo persica) are genetically and physically distinct from their African relatives. They are slightly smaller in size, have shorter manes in males, and live in smaller prides.

FACTS: Gir National Park

  • Location: Located in the state of Gujarat, western India
  • Established: 1965 (as a national park; the reserve was established earlier, in 1913)
  • Area: Approximately 1,412 square kilometers (including the national park and adjacent wildlife sanctuary)
  • Purpose: To preserve the last wild population of Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica)
  • Ecosystem: Dry deciduous forest, savannah, and scrub forest with semi-desert elements
  • Animal species: In addition to Asiatic lions, there are leopards, spotted hyenas, Indian crocodiles (mugger crocodiles), axis deer (chital), sambar deer, and over 300 bird species
  • Threats: Forest fires, drought, genetic inbreeding, disease, and human impact such as habitat loss and conflicts with humans

Antarctic ice levels show recent growth

Published 25 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Between 2021 and 2023, the ice mass increased by an average of 108 gigatonnes per year - likely due to increased precipitation.
1 minute read

Antarctica has long been associated with melting ice – but between 2021 and 2023, new research shows unexpected growth.

Using NASA satellite data, researchers from Tongji University in China measured Antarctic ice masses between 2002 and 2023, focusing mainly on four East Antarctic glacier areas – Denman, Moscow, Totten and Vincennes Bay – located in the Wilkes Land-Queen Mary Land area.

Over the period 2002-2010, the ice mass in Antarctica decreased by an average of 74 gigatons per year, the results, presented in Science China Earth Sciences, show. Furthermore, the ice mass decreased further between 2011 and 2020, with the loss reaching 142 gigatons per year. This has contributed to a sharp rise in sea levels.

Despite the significant decrease, the trend reversed dramatically between 2021 and 2023, when the ice mass increased by an average of 108 gigatonnes per year. The main reason is believed to be that the area had high precipitation compared to previous years. This has contributed to an average increase in sea levels of 0.3 millimeters per year.

The researchers emphasize that the increase may be a temporary trend and does not necessarily mean that ice masses will continue to increase.

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