Greenland’s flora is tremendously diverse. From lush scrublands and vibrant flower meadows to sparse vegetation on rocky terrains and steppes. There are numerous different plant communities and habitats in Greenland, each characterised by an extensive array of plants and flowers. Greenland is home to more than 520 native plant species. There are also around 200 imported species, such as lupine, Siberian poppy and European dandelion species. The artist Buuti Pedersen has been designing stamps for Tusass Greenland since 1995. Moreover, she has an avid interest in botany. She recalls that, at the age of 12, she found a flower in her native town of Qaqortoq that was previously only known to have grown in one place in Greenland, namely near the hot spring at Uunartoq, Ittoqqortoormiit. The flower is currently kept at the Botanical Museum in Copenhagen. Buuti visited the museum some years ago, where the preserved flower was shown to her. Together with Buuti, we have selected the Greenlandic plants, which will be immortalised on stamps in the coming years. Very fittingly, we are beginning with Greenland’s national flower: the Dwarf Fireweed, as well as Lapland Rosebay. These two stamps are Buuti’s fourteenth and fifteenth stamp designs for Tusass Greenland.
Dwarf Fireweed
Dwarf Fireweed belongs to the evening primrose family. In Greenlandic, it is called Niviarsiaq, which means ‘young girl’ or ‘nurse’. Its reddish colour distinguishes it among the subdued greens and browns of the landscape. Niviarsiaq can be found all across the country. There are up to 14 flowers on each stem. Each flower is 3-5 cms wide with four red-violet petals and four narrow, slightly darker sepals. In rare cases, white flowers can appear. The leaves, shoots, flower and fruit of the plant are edible and are especially good in salads or cooked as ’spinach’. Niviarsiaq is often seen growing on gravel or rocky terrain, in dry moors and old river beds.
Lapland Rosebay
Lapland Rosebay is an evergreen dwarf shrub of the rhododendrongenus. In Greenlandic it is called Oqaasaq. It has large, reddish-violet, fragrant flowers of 15 – 20 mm and leathery, oval leaves with rustbrown hair on its underside. While it thrives in mossy heaths and marshes, it can also be found in drier locations. It is widespread across Greenland, growing in most regions except the northernmost areas. It blooms primarily in May and June and in some places in July. Lapland Rosebay is similar to Labrador Tea, but is smaller and rarer and flowers later.
