Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses
Abstract Background Some grass species are richer in coumarin and thus more sweetly scented than others. These have been eagerly sought after in parts of Norway, but the tradition has been weakly documented, both in terms of the species collected, their vernacular names, and uses. Methods Based on l...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BioMed Central Ltd.
2015
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/11/1/83 |
id |
ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:s13002-015-0070-y |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:s13002-015-0070-y 2023-05-15T16:13:46+02:00 Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses Alm, Torbjørn 2015-12-23 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/11/1/83 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/11/1/83 Copyright 2015 Alm. Anthoxanthum nipponicum Hierochloë odorata Milium effusum Braids Perfume Research 2015 ftbiomed 2015-12-27T01:10:43Z Abstract Background Some grass species are richer in coumarin and thus more sweetly scented than others. These have been eagerly sought after in parts of Norway, but the tradition has been weakly documented, both in terms of the species collected, their vernacular names, and uses. Methods Based on literature data and a substantial body of information collected during my own ethnobotanical field work, artefacts and voucher specimens, the grass species are identified, and their uses clarified. Results In Norwegian literature, the tradition of collecting and using scented grasses has received little attention, and past authors largely refer it to Anthoxanthum spp. The tradition’s concentration to the Sámi strongholds of northernmost Norway, and most authors’ lacking knowledge of the Sámi language, have contributed to the weak and misleading coverage in previous publications. Coumarin-rich grass species are well known in folk tradition in northernmost Norway, as luktegress (Norwegian, “scent grass”), háissasuoidni (North Sámi, “scent grass”), hajuheinä (Finnish, “scent grass”), or similar terms. They have been (and still are) frequently collected, and used as perfume, for storing with clothes, and a number of other purposes. Despite literature records identifying the species used as Anthoxanthum odoratum coll. (including A. nipponicum), the main source utilized in North Norway is Hierochloë odorata , both ssp. arctica and ssp. odorata. Anthoxanthum nipponicum and Milium effusum are alternative, but infrequently used sources of material, depending on local tradition and availability. Conclusion By far the most important grass species hiding behind the “scented grass” tradition in Norway is Hierochloë odorata. Anthoxanthum nipponicum is also used, but much less frequently, and only a single record confirms the use of Milium effusum . Only the foliage of Hierochloë provides suitable material for making traditional braids. The three major ethnic groups in Norway have all utilized scented grasses as perfume and for storing with clothes, but the tradition’s geographical concentration to the far north of Norway (Finnmark and NE Troms), suggests that it has originally mainly been a Sámi tradition, adopted by their neighbours. Other/Unknown Material Finnmark North Norway North Sámi Sámi Finnmark Troms BioMed Central Norway |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
BioMed Central |
op_collection_id |
ftbiomed |
language |
English |
topic |
Anthoxanthum nipponicum Hierochloë odorata Milium effusum Braids Perfume |
spellingShingle |
Anthoxanthum nipponicum Hierochloë odorata Milium effusum Braids Perfume Alm, Torbjørn Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses |
topic_facet |
Anthoxanthum nipponicum Hierochloë odorata Milium effusum Braids Perfume |
description |
Abstract Background Some grass species are richer in coumarin and thus more sweetly scented than others. These have been eagerly sought after in parts of Norway, but the tradition has been weakly documented, both in terms of the species collected, their vernacular names, and uses. Methods Based on literature data and a substantial body of information collected during my own ethnobotanical field work, artefacts and voucher specimens, the grass species are identified, and their uses clarified. Results In Norwegian literature, the tradition of collecting and using scented grasses has received little attention, and past authors largely refer it to Anthoxanthum spp. The tradition’s concentration to the Sámi strongholds of northernmost Norway, and most authors’ lacking knowledge of the Sámi language, have contributed to the weak and misleading coverage in previous publications. Coumarin-rich grass species are well known in folk tradition in northernmost Norway, as luktegress (Norwegian, “scent grass”), háissasuoidni (North Sámi, “scent grass”), hajuheinä (Finnish, “scent grass”), or similar terms. They have been (and still are) frequently collected, and used as perfume, for storing with clothes, and a number of other purposes. Despite literature records identifying the species used as Anthoxanthum odoratum coll. (including A. nipponicum), the main source utilized in North Norway is Hierochloë odorata , both ssp. arctica and ssp. odorata. Anthoxanthum nipponicum and Milium effusum are alternative, but infrequently used sources of material, depending on local tradition and availability. Conclusion By far the most important grass species hiding behind the “scented grass” tradition in Norway is Hierochloë odorata. Anthoxanthum nipponicum is also used, but much less frequently, and only a single record confirms the use of Milium effusum . Only the foliage of Hierochloë provides suitable material for making traditional braids. The three major ethnic groups in Norway have all utilized scented grasses as perfume and for storing with clothes, but the tradition’s geographical concentration to the far north of Norway (Finnmark and NE Troms), suggests that it has originally mainly been a Sámi tradition, adopted by their neighbours. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Alm, Torbjørn |
author_facet |
Alm, Torbjørn |
author_sort |
Alm, Torbjørn |
title |
Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses |
title_short |
Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses |
title_full |
Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses |
title_fullStr |
Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses |
title_full_unstemmed |
Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses |
title_sort |
scented grasses in norway—identity and uses |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/11/1/83 |
geographic |
Norway |
geographic_facet |
Norway |
genre |
Finnmark North Norway North Sámi Sámi Finnmark Troms |
genre_facet |
Finnmark North Norway North Sámi Sámi Finnmark Troms |
op_relation |
http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/11/1/83 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2015 Alm. |
_version_ |
1765999615539150848 |