Greenland: Dwarf Fireweed

Dwarf Fireweed (Chamerion latifolium in Latin, Primrose family) is the national flower of Greenland, and is one of the most showy and colorful on the island. It is known as Niviarsiaq in Greenlandic, meaning “young girl”. The colorful pink flowers bloom in profusion in stony soils and glacial valley, we saw them pretty much on every landing. The flower is used as food in Greenland, both leaves and flowers are edible and taste sort of like spinach (salad to accompany stewed seal or walrus), tea is also made out of it.