14 plants for survival in Sweden

As a collector of old knowledge and manuals as we are. We have always been fascinated by the Swedish militaries survival school. Founded by Lars Felt in 1988 and influenced by some of the best around the world. I managed to track down a copy of the manual from 1988. 

You can see how the illustration style carried over into the classic Lars Felt books we all love today. In it was a list of the Survival Schools top 14 plants for survival in Sweden. Some of them familiar to everyone and some are more local. I translated the list and it's below. For anyone looking to leaf through this piece of outdoor history. Here is the link to the book itself where it can be read for free.

Birch (Swedish: Björk) Betula (carbohydrate-rich sap with 2% sugar)

Cow parsley (Swedish: Hundkäx)  Anthriscus sylvestris (starchy root, 15% carbohydrates)

Cattail (Swedish: Kaveldun) Typha (starchy rhizome, root pith with 21% carbohydrate)

Orpine (Swedish: Kärleksört) - Hylotelephium telephium (fleshy leaves, root tubers with 10% carbohydrate)

True Iceland lichen (Swedish: Islandslav) - Cetraria islandica (lichens are high in carbohydrates)

Beard lichen (Swedish: Skägglav) - Usnea dasopoga (lichens are high in carbohydrates)

Ink lav (Swedish: Tuschlav) - Lasallia pustulata (lichens are high in carbohydrates)

Dandelion (Swedish: Maskros) Taraxacum (vitamin C-rich leaves, root with 23% carbohydrate)

Milkwort (Swedish: Mjölkört) Chamaenerion angustifolium (starchy rhizome, 16% carbohydrate)

Rosehips (Swedish: Nypon) Rosa (fruits rich in sugar and vitamin C)

Snake root (Swedish: Ormrot) - Bistorta vivipara (sprouts with 17% carbohydrate, starchy root tuber)

Pine (Swedish: Tall) Pinus sylvestris (starchy inner bark, vitamin-rich needles)

Woolly burdock (Swedish: Ullkardborre) Arctium tomentosum (root with 21% carbohydrate)

Reed (Swedish: Vass) - Phragmites australis (sugar-rich rhizome, 7% carbohydrate)