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Paper short abstract:

In this paper I look at how garden lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus) have been discussed in Finnish press since the 19th century. I show how newspaper and magazine data is valuable when studying changing notions on plants and biodiversity and that it can also help trace plant agency.

Paper long abstract:

In this paper I look at how garden lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus) have been discussed in Finnish press since the 19th century. Garden lupine, native to North America, was brought to Finland in the nineteenth century to be used as an ornamental plant and forage plant. It was seen as a useful plant as gardeners admired its colorful looks and farmers used it as a fertilizing plant, but as time went on, peopled perceptions changed as the plants ability to spread from gardens to outside nature became evident. Nowadays it is listed as an invasive alien species and seen as a biodiversity threat and landowners are demanded to get rid of it. By looking at digitized newspaper and magazine data, I trace peoples’ perceptions of garden lupines, track its changing place in Finnish culture and nature from the nineteenth century onward: I show how Finns attitudes have changed toward this plant and why. What kind of emotions this garden escapee has evoked and how different people have understood and defined it according to the press? I also show how the plant itself; its biology and agency has affected the ways people have understand it. In my paper, I highlight the benefits of using digitized newspaper and magazine data as a source when studying changes in the biodiversity. Even with its shortcomings, as a source it is valuable in tracing attitude changes. I argue that it can also be used to trace plant agency.