Province flowers of Sweden

Province flowers are species of plants selected to represent each province of Sweden. The origin of province flowers came from the American idea of state flowers, and was brought to Sweden by August Wickström and Paul Petter Waldenström in 1908. Waldenström published the proposal to introduce province flowers in the May 288, 1908 edition of the newspaper Stockholms Dagblad, and requested suggestions of species from the country's botanics. A list was put together on June 7, 1908, by professor Veit B. Wittrock from the Botanical Garden in Stockholm.[1] Scania and Hälsingland violently opposed the plants that were selected to represent them; Scania was given European Beech but wanted oxeye daisy, while Hälsingland was given Scots Pine but wanted flax. Erik E:son Hammar, a pastor and politician in Sweden, granted the two provinces' wish to change their province flowers in 1909.[2] There is still debate amongst several other provinces over which species should represent them and they have therefore been given two province flowers.[1]

List

Province Image Local name Scientific name
Blekinge Ek Quercus robur
Kungsljus Verbascum thapsus
Bohuslän Vildkaprifol Lonicera periclymenum
Dalarna Blåklocka Campanula rotundifolia
Ängsklocka Campanula patula
Dalsland Förgätmigej Myosotis scorpioides
Gotland Murgröna Hedera helix
Gästrikland Liljekonvalj Convallaria majalis
Halland Hårginst Genista pilosa
Hälsingland Lin Linum usitatissimum
Härjedalen Mosippa Pulsatilla vernalis
Fjällviol Viola biflora
Jämtland Brunkulla Gymnadenia nigra
Lappland Fjällsippa Dryas octopetala
Medelpad Gran Picea abies
Smörboll Trollius europaeus
Norrbotten Åkerbär Rubus arcticus
Närke Gullviva Primula veris
Skåne Prästkrage Leucanthemum vulgare
Småland Linnea Linnaea borealis
Södermanland Vit näckros Nymphaea alba
Uppland Kungsängslilja Fritillaria meleagris
Värmland Skogsstjärna Trientalis europaea
Västerbotten Kung Karls spira Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum
Västergötland Ljung Calluna vulgaris
Västmanland Mistel Viscum album
Ångermanland Styvmorsviol Viola tricolor
Öland Ölandssolvända Helianthemum oelandicum
Östergötland Blåklint Centaurea cyanus

References

  1. ^ a b Nilsson, Ulf (May 10, 2009). "Den 100-åriga liljekonvaljen". Arbetarbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  2. ^ Hamrin, Örjan (2003). "Vilken är Dalarnas landskapsblomma?". In Raihle, Jan; Ståhl, Elisabeth (eds.). Dalarnas hembygdsbok (in Swedish). Vol. 73. Falun: Dalarnas fornminnes- och hembygdsförbund. ISBN 91-87466-66-X.