Friday, December 31, 2010

Orchid flowers of Brazil.

Wishing You Happy New Year 2011.

Brazil Post issued the set of three stamps depicted beautiful orchid flower on year 1996. The featured orchid are Promenaea stapelioides, Cattleya eldorado, and Cattleya loddogesii.

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Promenaea stapelioides Lindley (0.15)

Promenaea stapelioides Lindley is a plant bloom in the summer with one to two 5 cm flowers. Flowers are fragrant. Plants are found growing on trees and damp rocks in the cool mountain forest of southern Brazil .





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Cattleya Eldorado Linden (0.15)

Cattleya eldorado is one of the smaller-growing Cattleya species. The pseudo bulbs are usually only 3 to 5 inches tall (plus a 4- to 6-inch-tall leaf), and a robust flowering-size plant is normally comfortable in a 4-inch clay pot. Cattleya eldorado have lovely range of subtle colours. The most common form has pale lavender-pink sepals and petals with an orange-throated lip. The orange disc in the throat is circular in shape, edged in white, and there is lavender or purple across the bottom edge on the lip. The colour pattern of the lip is distinctive to the species.it growing wild along the Rio Negro in Brazil, and it glitters in lavender, orange, pink and white in the sunlight, it may well be worth its weight in gold.

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Cattleya Loddigesii Lindley (0.15)

Cattleya Loddigesii is scented like roses till 3 weeks and have diameter minimum 6-8 cm. It is found in many Brazilian states. The habitats is quite diversified. It can be occurs as epiphyte or directly on the rock.The bud arise from a floral atrophied leafless pseudo bulb. The colour range from pink to purple or dark purple.

Winter Flowers of Jersey

Following the first issued of the stamps featuring seasonal blossoms,entitled ‘Autumn Flowers’ , Jersey Post issued the second series depict the Winter Flowers on the 10th November 2003. The set of stamps comprised six stamps depicted Japanese Quince, Winter Jasmine, Snowdrop, Winter Heath, Chinese Witch-hazel, and Winter Daphne.

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Japanese quince 29p,

Japanese Quince or Chaenomeles japonica is a genus of three species of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1–3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea.The species have become a popular ornamental shrubs in parts of Europe and North America, grown in gardens for their bright flowers

The leaves are are 3–5 cm long and alternately arranged, simple, and have a serrated margin. The flowers are 3–4.5 cm diameter, with five petals, and are usually bright orange-red, but can be white or pink; flowering is in late winter or early spring. It has small fruit with five carpels ; apple-shaped, 3–4 cm diameter; it ripens in late autumn. and has fruit. Some cultivars grow up to 2 m tall, but others are much smaller and creeping. They are also suitable for cultivation as a bonsai.

Winter jasmine 30p,

Winter Jasmine, is a slender, deciduous shrub native to China. It has arching green shoots and opposite, pinnate, dark green leaves. Each leaf is divided into three oval-oblong leaflets which are about 3 cm long.

As its name suggests Winter Jasmine flowers, in the Northern Hemisphere, from November to March. The solitary flowers have six petals and are bright yellow, about 1 cm across, appearing in the leaf axils.

Winter Jasmine likes full sun or partial shade and is hardy. It tolerates hard pruning and should be pruned in spring immediately after flowering, regular pruning will help to prevent bare patches. It can be propagated using the layering technique. This species of Jasmine can be grown as a bonsai.

Snowdrop 39p,

Snowdrop or Galanthus nivalis is a small genus of bulbous herbaceous plants in the Amaryllis family. There are about 20 species.Most flower in winter, but certain species flower in early spring and late autumn.

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Winter Heath 48p,

Winter heath or Erica carnea is a species of heath native to mountainous areas of central and southern Europe in the eastern Alps, where it grows in coniferous woodlands or stony slopes.

It is a low-growing subshrub reaching 10-25 cm tall, with evergreen needle-like leaves 4-8 mm long, borne in whorls of four. The flowers are produced in racemes in late winter to early spring, often starting to flower while the plant is still covered in snow; the individual flower is a slender bell-shape, 4-6 mm long, dark reddish-pink, rarely white.

It is very widely grown as an ornamental plant for its winter flowering; over 100 cultivars have been selected for variation in flower and leaf colour.

Chinese Witch-hazel 53p,

Chinese Witch-hazel or Hamamelis mollis is a species of witch-hazel native to central and eastern China, in Anhui, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Zhejiang.

It is a deciduous large shrub or small tree growing to 8 m tall. The leaves are oval, 8-15 cm long and 6-10 cm broad, oblique at the base, acute or rounded at the apex, with a wavy-toothed or shallowly lobed margin, and a short petiole 6-10 mm long; they are dark green and thinly hairy above, and grey beneath with dense grey hairs. The flowers are yellow, with four ribbon-shaped petals 15 mm long and four short stamens, and grow in clusters; flowering is in late winter to early spring.

The fruit is a hard woody capsule 12 mm long, which splits explosively at the apex at maturity one year after pollination, ejecting the two shiny black seeds from the parent plant.It is widely grown as an ornamental plant, valued for the strongly scented flowers. Numerous cultivars have been selected, for variation in flower colour and size, and in shrub size and habit.

Winter Daphne 69p,

Winter daphne or Daphne odora is an evergreen shrub, grown for its incredibly fragrant, fleshy, pale-pink, tubular flowers, each with 4 spreading lobes and for its glossy foliage. The plant is native to China and Japan.

The plant is fully frost hardy. It requires full sun to part shade. It is found in fertile, slightly acid, peaty, well-drained soils. It will not tolerate transplantation as, like all Daphne, it hates root disturbance. It rarely fruits, but when it does, it produces red berries after flowering in habitat. Daphne odora is propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in summer. It is susceptible to viruses that cause leaf mottling.Plants are not long lived, senescing within 8 to 10 years.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Goshawk as Estonian Bird 2005

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The goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), also known as the Northern Goshawk is an average-sized predator with a wingspan of more than one metre.It is the largest member of the genus Accipiter. The range of the goshawk is Eurasia and North America.

Plumage colour varies form grey in males to brownish in young and female individuals.The Northern Goshawk, like all accipiters, exhibits sexual dimorphism, where females are significantly larger than males. Males are 49–57 cm long with a 93–105 cm wingspan. The female is much larger, 58–64 cm long with a 108–127 cm wingspan. Males of the smaller races can weigh as little as 630 grams ,whereas females of the larger races can weigh as much as 2 kg .

The juvenile is brown above and barred brown below.Juveniles and adults have a barred tail, with dark brown or black barring. Adults always have a white eye stripe. In Europe and Asia, juveniles also have pale-yellow eyes, however adults develop orange-coloured eyes.

This species hunts birds and mammals in a variety of woodland habitats, often utilizing a combination of speed and obstructing cover to ambush birds and mammals. Goshawks are often seen flying along adjoining habitat types, such as the edge of a forest and meadow; flying low and fast hoping to surprise unsuspecting prey. They are usually opportunistic predators, as are most birds of prey. The most important prey species are small mammals and birds found in forest habitats.

The Estonian name of the bird, kanakull, only bears in mind domestic hens as its prey, its menu ranges from black grouse to jays, partridges, squirrels and rabbits. Attacks at domestic fowls become more frequent in the autumn and winter, when food is short in the woods

The bird builds its nest in mature and old growth coniferous forests that have rapidly dwindled in territory due to logging. The goshawk is superbly suited to this environment, navigating at great speed through the forest understory and canopy in pursuit of songbirds and squirrels. There are 2 - 4 young in a hatch. Over the past decade its population in Estonia has contracted by nearly a half to just half a thousand couples. 2005_318_fdc

The flight is a characteristic "flap flap, glide", but is sometimes seen soaring in migration, and is capable of considerable, sustained, horizontal speed in pursuit of prey.

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Peony Flower of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Post issued the stamps depicted the Peony flower which presented in one souvenir sheet and sheetlet of 4 single stamps on April 10, 2010. The designed made by Kh. Mirzoyev.

The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

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Peony or paeony is a name for plants in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America. Boundaries between species are not clear and estimates of the number of species range from 25 to 40.

imageMost are herbaceous perennial plants 0.5–1.5 metres tall, but some resemble trees up to 1.5–3 metres tall. They have compound, deeply lobed leaves, and large, often fragrant flowers, ranging from red to white or yellow, in late spring and early summer.

Peonies can be classified by both plant growth habit and by flower type. Plant types are Herbaceous (Bush), Tree and Intersectional (Itoh), while flower types are Single, Japanese,Anemone, Semi-Double , Double and Bomb-Double Each category becoming more complex in the arrangement of petals. Herbaceous peonies die back in winter, regrown in spring, while tree peonies lose their leaves in winter, but leave woody stems.

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Monday, December 27, 2010

The Lapwing (Vanellus Vanellus) as Estonian Bird 2001

The Lapwing, (Vanellus vanellus, of the genus Charadriidae) was elected bird of the year 2001 on the initiative of the Estonian Ornithological Society.The stamp has issued on year 2001 and have specific of bird logo.

The Lapwing breeds throughout the European temperate zone, nesting in marshlands, meadows and green fields. A frequent migrant in Estonia, it usually arrives in early April and leaves in September-October. The lapwing is noted for its slow irregular flapping flight and shrill wailing cry.

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Fungi of Bulgaria

Bulgaria Post issued a series of stamp depicted the fungi species, like : Amanita muscaria (32ct), Gyromitra esculenta (42ct),Boletus satanas (60ct),Amanita phalloides (5ct),Amanita verna (10ct),Amanita pantherina (20ct) on year 1990.

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(32cr) Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere,Although generally considered poisonous, deaths are extremely rare, and it has been consumed as a food in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America after parboiling in water. Fully grown, the bright red cap is usually around 8–20 cm in diameter, although larger specimens have been found. The red color may fade after rain and in older mushrooms. After emerging from the ground, the cap is covered with numerous small white to yellow pyramid-shaped warts.

Amanita muscaria contains a number of biologically active agents, at least two of which, muscimol and ibotenic acid, are known to be psychoactive. Amanita muscaria is now primarily famed for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. It was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia and has a religious significance in these cultures.

(42cr) Gyromitra esculenta is one of several species of fungi known as false morels, is an ascomycete fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America.Resembling a brain, the irregularly shaped cap may be up to 10 cm high and 15 cm wide. Initially smooth, it becomes progressively more wrinkled as it grows and ages. The cap colour may be various shades of reddish-, chestnut-, purplish-, bay-, dark or sometimes golden-brown.Gyromitra esculenta grows on sandy soil in Temperate coniferous forest and occasionally in deciduous woodlands.

Despite its recognized toxicity, Gyromitra esculenta is marketed and consumed in several countries or states in Europe and North America. Although potentially fatal if eaten raw, Gyromitra esculenta is a popular delicacy in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and the upper Great Lakes region of North America. It is eaten in omelettes, soups, or sautéed in Finnish cuisine.Although it is still commonly parboiled before preparation, recent evidence suggests that even this procedure may not make the fungus entirely safe The toxin affects the liver, central nervous system, and sometimes the kidneys.

(60cr) Boletus satanas, commonly known as the Devil's bolete or Satan's mushroom, is a basidiomycete fungus of the bolete family. Found on chalky soil in mixed woodlands in the southern, warmer regions of Europe and North America, it is generally regarded as a poisonous mushroom, with predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea and vomiting occurring if eaten raw. However, reports of poisoning are rare due to its odd appearance and at times putrid smell minimising casual experimentation. There are reports of its traditional consumption in the former Czechoslovakia, Italy and San Francisco Bay Area after thorough cooking.

The squat, brightly coloured fruiting bodies are large and imposing, with a pale dull-coloured velvety cap up to 30 cm wide, blood red pores and bulbous red-patterned stalk. The flesh turns blue when cut or bruised. There is a smell of carrion, more noticeable with age. It is the largest bolete growing in Europe.

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(5cr) Amanita phalloides commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Widely distributed across Europe. Amanita phalloides forms ectomycorrhizas with various broadleaved trees. In some cases, death cap has been accidentally introduced to new regions with the cultivation of non-native species of oak, chestnut, and pine. The large fruiting bodies (mushrooms) appear in summer and autumn; the caps are generally greenish in colour, with a white stipe and gills.

Coincidentally, these toxic mushrooms resemble several edible species commonly consumed by humans, increasing the risk of accidental poisoning. Amanita phalloides is one of the most poisonous of all known toadstools. The principal toxic constituent is α-amanitin, which damages the liver and kidneys, often fatally.

(10cr) Amanita verna, commonly known as the fool's mushroom, Destroying angel or the mushroom fool, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Occurring in Europe in spring, Amanita verna associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees.

The large fruiting bodies (i.e., the mushrooms) appear in summer and autumn; the caps, stipes and gills are all white in colour.The fool's mushroom is pure white, all the way to the gills and the stem. This fungus, like all amanitas, has a volva. The fool's mushroom's cap is 5–10 centimetres wide, and is about the same height. This mushroom's lamellae is free and white, and the volva is bag-like and large.The mushroom lives in Europe. The fool's mushroom is known to grow in woodlands and hardwood forests.

(20cr) Amanita pantherina also known as the Panther cap and False Blusher due to its similarity to the true Blusher (Amanita rubescens), is a species of Europe and western Asia. The panther cap is an uncommon mushroom, found in both deciduous, especially beech and, less frequently, coniferous woodland and rarely meadows throughout Europe, western Asia in late summer and autumn.It is an ectomycorrhizal fungus, living in root symbiosis with a tree, deriving photosynthesised nutrients from it and providing soil nutrients in return.

The European Panther contains ibotenic acid and muscimol, it is used as an entheogen much less often than the related Amanita muscaria because of the extremely high levels of these compounds found in the mushroom. Still they aren't deadly.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Orchids of Solomon Islands.

Post Administration of Solomon Islands issued the stamp series depicted the orchid species, like Calanthe triplicata, Dendrobium mohlianum, Dendrobium spectabile and Flickingeria comata.

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Calanthe triplicata commonly known as The Thrice Folded Calanthe - The Christmas Orchid [Australia] is a terrestrial orchid.The original home of Calanthe triplicata species is from south China, Vietnam and India to Australia and New Guinea and also the Pacific Islands .Its habitat is broad-leafed, humid, primary forests in crevasses in karst limestone with rich humus soil in humid, shady conditions at elevations of 500 to 1500 meters grows cool to hot. Calanthe triplicata has ovoid psuedobulbs carrying 3 to 6, ovate-lanceolate, to elliptic-lanceolate, plicate, prominently ribbed, long petiolate leaves that are pubescent beneath and blooms from a mature pseudobulb .





 
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Flickingeria Comata , is a species of orchid epiphytes native to Southeast Asia and western Pacific .It is an epiphytic orchid with stems that branch from the top with 2 nodes wearing yellow or orange leaves very coriaceous, elliptical and obtuse. The inflorescence with bracts acute, appears in the axils of the leaves with fragrant flowers appear in clusters that occur at any time of year or nine days after it rains.It is found in the lowlands, growing as epiphytes at elevations of 850 meters on the peninsula of Malaysia , Borneo , Sumatra , Papua New Guinea , Java , Philippines , New Guinea , Solomon Islands , northeast of Australia , Taiwan , Samoa , New Caledonia and Fiji in the trees in the forests open or small trees after logging.




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Dendrobium mohlianum is a species of genus Dendrobium.Plant blooms from winter to spring with several 3 cm flowers.Plant found growing in trees in the Pacific Islands at elevations of 450 to 3100 meters .Plants are cool to warm growers. Place plants in partial shade and pot with medium bark or sphagnum moss. Water regularly in the summer and reduce watering in the winter. 











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Dendrobium spectabile is a warm growing species native to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The 18 inch to 2 foot long canes produce masses of flowers that look like aliens from another world.This plant typically flowers in the winter and early spring months but can also flower in late August through October. Each flower spike can produce 10 - 20 three inch flowers colored in cream, tan, mahogany, purple, and green. The flowers last a couple of and have a nice honey-like fragrance.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Christmas Tree on Finland Stamp.


WISHING YOU A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS 2010.

From the chosen stamp from Suomi Finland 2004, the celebration of Christmas usually use the Christmas tree at home or shopping mall.

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The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century.The Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the home and decorated with Christmas lights (originally candles), ornaments, garlands, tinsel, and candy canes during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.

Natural Christmas trees on the other hand are entirely biodegradable and are generally disposed of in landfills.Real or Cut trees are used only for a short time, but can be recycled and used as mulch or used to prevent erosion.

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In order to continue get Christmas tree, the cultivation ( an agricultural, forestry, and horticultural occupation) has to be done involves growing pine, spruce, and fir trees which specifically for use as Christmas trees.

A wide variety of pine and fir species are grown as Christmas trees, although a handful of varieties stand out in popularity.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The House Sparrow and The Tree Sparrow as Estonian Bird 2002

The Estonian Ornithological Society has chosen the house sparrow and the tree sparrow as birds of the year 2002.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a species of passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia. It has also been intentionally or accidentally introduced to many parts of the world, making it the most widely distributed wild bird. It is strongly associated with human habitations, but it is not the only sparrow species found near houses. It is a small bird, with feathers mostly different shades of brown and grey.

The Tree Sparrow or Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape, and a black patch on each pure white cheek.The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is 12.5–14 cm long with a wingspan of about 21 cm and a weight of 24 g making it roughly 10% smaller than the House Sparrow.

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is widespread in the towns and cities of eastern Asia, but in Europe it is a bird of lightly wooded open countryside, with the House Sparrow breeding in the more urban areas.

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The habitat of these two very common birds is mostly human-modified situations, such as farms, residential and urban areas. Their foods are mainly seeds, both of cereal grains and of weeds, although they also feed on insects and fruit.

The nest is normally in an artificial cavity, often inside or on a building or other structure, or in a natural cavity, such as a tree hole. There are usually four to ten (mostly 5-7) eggs, which the female parent incubates for ten to thirteen days. The young, which both parents care for, fledge after ten to seventeen days, with one to two brooks per summer.

Both birds are streaked brown or black on top and whitish grey below. The tree sparrow has a rufous crown on a grey head, and a dark spot in the centre of the breast. The house sparrow is an agile, lively bird, often brazen and quarrelsome.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Shrike as Estonian Bird 2010

The Estonian Ornithological Society picked has two species of shrikes, the Red-back Shrike (Lanius collurio) and the Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor), as birds of the year 2010.

The birds have a long tail and a strong hooked beak. The male shrike has a typical black eye mask. The red-back shrike is slightly larger than the sparrow while the great grey shrike is about the size of a small thrush.

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Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. Shrikes are medium-sized birds, up to 50 centimetres in length, with grey, brown, or black and white plumage. Their beaks are hooked, like that of a bird of prey, reflecting their predatory nature, and their calls are strident.Shrikes are known for their habit of catching insects and small vertebrates and impaling their bodies on thorns.

Shrikes can be seen in open and semi-open landscapes. Shrikes are carnivorous birds whose catch consists of larger insects, lizards, frogs, small birds and rodents. They hunt from prominent perches and impale corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a “larder”.

The Red-back shrike is a migratory bird that winters in southern Africa and arrives at our latitude only in the middle of May. In Estonia it is a very common breeding bird whose number in the country has been assessed at 40,000 to 60,000 pairs.

The Great grey shrike can be seen in Estonia all through the year but it is considerably less numerous than the red-back shrike. About 500-600 great grey shrikes spend the winter here, and only 300-500 pairs of them breed in the country.

The great grey shrike and the red-back shrike are to be included in the protected birds.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Armenian Apricot

In commemoration of the first "Armenian Apricot" international scientific forum‚ the national postal operator of the Republic of Armenia, HayPost CJSC, has officially issued a postal stamp entitled Armenian Apricot.

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The apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.

The apricot was known in Armenia during ancient times, and has been cultivated there for so long it is often thought to be native there. Its scientific name Prunus armeniaca (Armenian plum) derives from that assumption.




The fruit is a drupe similar to a small peach, 1.5–2.5 cm diameter (larger in some modern cultivars), from yellow to orange, often tinged red on the side most exposed to the sun; its surface is usually pubescent. The single seed is enclosed in a hard stony-shell, often called a "stone", with a grainy, smooth texture except for three ridges running down one side.

Turkey (Malatya region) is the leading apricot producer followed by Iran. In Armenia, apricots are grown in Ararat Valley.

Cyanogenic glycosides (found in most stone fruit seeds, bark, and leaves) are found in high concentration in apricot seeds.Research shows that of any food, apricots possess the highest levels and widest variety of carotenoids .Carotenoids are antioxidants that help prevent heart disease,reduce "bad cholesterol" levels and protect against cancer.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Indoor Potted Flowers of Taiwan

Indoor potted flowers are species native to the forests of the tropics, sub-tropics and temperate regions. Even when there is insufficient natural light indoors, they can still grow lushly and flower with the help of artificial lighting. Potted flowers instantly give a place the feel of life. Therefore Indoor Potted flowers are one of optional way for decorating of home and office.

On 1999, The Directorate General of Posts from Taiwan has chosen three perennials: the Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa), the African violet (Saint-paulia × hybrida) and the Flamingo flower (Anthurium scherzerianum) depicted on the stamps set . The three stamps have face values of NT$5.00, NT$12.00 and NT$19.00 respectively. The stamps were painted by Mr. Cheng Yuan-chun of the Department of Botany at the Taiwan Provincial Museum.

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Sinningia speciosa, commonly known in the horticultural trade as Gloxinia, is a tuberous member of the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. The common name has persisted since its original introduction to cultivation from Brazil in 1817 as Gloxinia speciosa.The plants produce large, velvety, brightly coloured flowers and are popular houseplants.







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Saintpaulia, commonly known as African violet, is a genus of six species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa, with a concentration of species in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania.Saintpaulias grow from 6–15 cm tall and can be anywhere from 6–30 cm wide. The leaves are rounded to oval, 2.5–8.5 cm long with a 2–10 cm petiole, finely hairy, and with a fleshy texture. The flowers are 2–3 cm diameter, with a five-lobed velvety corolla ("petals"), and grow in clusters of 3–10 or more on slender stalks (peduncles). Flower colour in the wild species can be violet, purple, pale blue, or white.




flower china 2cAnthurium scherzerianum is a member of section Porphyrochitonium and is easily recognized by the large, showy, bright orange or red-orange to red spathe, and coiled spadix. The species is now commonly cultivated throughout the world and about 40 different forms are recognized in cultivation.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Beautiful Flower of New Zealand

New Zealand Post has been issued a beautiful miniature sheet that featured flowers like Camellia, Siberian Iris, Daffodil,Chrysanthemum, Sweet Pea, and Petunia.

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Camellia, 40c,

Camellia, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. Camelia flowers are usually large and conspicuous, one to 12 cm in diameter, with five to nine petals in naturally occurring species of camellias. The colors of the flowers vary from white through pink colors to red, but yellow flowers are found in just a few species of camellias. They are native to eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalaya east to Korea and Indonesia. There are 100–250 described species, with some controversy over the exact number.

Siberian Iris, 80c,

Siberian Iris or Iris sibirica, is a flowering plant in the genus Iris, native to northern Asia and eastern and central Europe and widely grown in gardens in temperate regions around the world.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 50-120 cm tall. The leaves are glaucous green, narrow and fairly rigid, blade-shaped, 40-80 cm long and 2-4 cm broad. The flowers are typical of an iris, each flower 4-7 cm diameter, mid- to purple-blue, often with a paler whitish or yellowish centre.It is the parent plant of many hybrids, used because of its attractive foliage and ability to flourish in a wide range of climates; the hybrids vary widely in flower colour.

Daffodil, 90c,

Daffodil is the common name of the Narcissus (genus) of flowering plant for a genus of mainly hardy, mostly spring-flowering, bulbs in the Amaryllis family native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia.The range of forms in cultivation has been heavily modified and extended, with new variations available from specialists almost every year.All Narcissus species have a central trumpet-, bowl-, or disc-shaped corona surrounded by a ring of six floral leaves called the perianth which is united into a tube at the forward edge of the 3-locular ovary. The seeds are black, round and swollen with hard coat. The three outer segments are sepals, and the three inner segments are petals.All Narcissus varieties contain the alkaloid poison lycorine, mostly in the bulb but also in the leaves.

Chrysanthemum, $1.30,

Chrysanthemum are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 50–150 cm tall, with deeply lobed leaves with large flower heads that are generally white, yellow or pink in the wild and are the preferred diet of larvae of certain lepidoptera species.The name Chrysanthemum is derived from the Greek, chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower).Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus (Chrysanthemum) in the family Asteraceae. This flower is native to Asia and northeastern Europe constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants.

Sweet Pea, $ 1.50,

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes). It is an annual climbing plant, growing to a height of 1–2 meters (nearly six feet and six inches), where suitable support is available.It is native to the eastern Mediterranean region from Sicily east to Crete.The leaves are pinnate with two leaflets and a terminal tendril, which twines around supporting plants and structures helping the sweet pea to climb. The flowers are purple, 2-3.5 centimeters broad, in the wild plant, larger and very variable in colour in the many cultivars.

Petunia, $ 2.00,

Petunia is a widely-cultivated genus of flowering plants of South American origin.Most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrids (Petunia × hybrida).A wide range of flower colours, sizes, and plant architectures are available in both the hybrid and open-pollinated species

Friday, December 10, 2010

Fruits of Papua New Guinea

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Because fruits have been such a major part of the human diet, different cultures have developed many different uses for various fruits that they do not depend on as being edible.Fruits are generally high in fiber, water, vitamin C and sugars, although this latter varies widely from traces as in lime, to 61% of the fresh weight of the date.Many hundreds of fruits, including fleshy fruits like apple, peach, pear, kiwifruit, watermelon and mango are commercially valuable as human food, eaten both fresh and as jams, marmalade and other preserves.Many fruits are used to make beverages, such as fruit juices (orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, etc.) or alcoholic beverages, such as wine or brandy.

Seedlessness is an important feature of some fruits of commerce. Commercial cultivars of bananas and pineapples are examples of seedless fruits. Some cultivars of citrus fruits (especially navel oranges), mandarin oranges, grapefruit, and watermelons are valued for their seedlessness.

Therefore Papua New Guinea Post issued the stamp series features of fruit series. The stamp set comprised of six piece stamps depicted mango, watermelon, pineapple, pawpaw, guava, and lemon fruit.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Yellow Wagtail as Estonian bird 2006

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The yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) is a small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, whose nearest relatives are the white wagtail, the citrine wagtail and the grey wagtail.

It is a slender 15–16 cm long bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. It is the shortest tailed of the European wagtails. The breeding adult male is basically olive above and yellow below. In other plumages, the yellow may be diluted by white. The heads of breeding males come in a variety of colours and patterns depending on subspecies.The call is a characteristic high-pitched jeet The yellow wagtail is insectivorous bird that nests in tussocks, laying 4-8 speckled eggs.

The species is distributed in large parts of Eurasia, North Africa and Western Alaska. Sixteen races can be identified through its range, differing from each other by the pattern and colour of the head. Two of the races are found in Estonia. The yellow wagtail breeds in wet grasslands such as water meadows and open countryside near the sea. Feeding mostly on invertebrates, it is a good assistant to the farmer. The yellow wagtail is a protected species, being relatively common in Estonia at present, but destruction of its habitats by grasslands overgrowing with brush and reduction of animal breeding could cut down its population to critical.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The White Stork -Estonian Bird 2004

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The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia ) has been breeding in Estonia for more than a hundred years.It is found throughout mainland Estonia and is particularly frequent in the southeast and south parts of the country.The white stork breeds also in Central and Eastern Europe, the Near East and North Africa, but in Western Europe.

White storks breed in open farmland areas with access to marshy wetlands, building a stick nest in trees, on buildings, or special platforms.

Because it is viewed as bird of good luck, it is not persecuted, and often nests close to human habitation.It walks slowly and steadily on the ground. It often forms small colonies. It feeds on fish, frogs and insects but also eats small reptiles, rodents and smaller birds.

Its population has declined from year to year. Being a big and strong bird, it has few enemies, and it is only seldom that an eagle may attack its nest. The stork usually has 2 to 3 young it the family.

For the winter Estonian storks travel to South Africa, avoiding the open sea on their migration and return to their breeding places in April. The white stork is a protected species.The White Stork is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Orchids of Vanuatu

Vanuatu Post has issued stamp series depicted the beautiful orchid flower such as: Dendrobium gouldii, Dendrobium polysema, Dendrobium spectabile, Flickingeria comata.Pictures of orchid flower are placed diagonally so adding good view side. There are unique stamps.

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Dendrobium gouldii (35),

Dendrobium gouldii found in Papua and New Guinea and the Solomon Islands as a large to giant sized, hot growing epiphyte or lithophyte occurring in riverine forests, coastal forest, swamp forests, beaches and plantations at altitudes of sea-level to 700 meters with clustered, fusiform, many nodes, green stems carrying a few distichous, coriaceous, purple suffused in youth, obtuse leaves that blooms on an erect, to 35 to 70 cm long, axillary, racemose, several to many flowered inflorescence that arise from the upper nodes on mature leafy canes with 7 to 40 flowers occurring mostly in the fall. This species forms kiekies at the upper nodes of any damaged stem and they can be removed when it has more than 3 roots that are 2" long and grown as a seedling. A slight lessening of water and fertilizer in winter is beneficial to promote good plant growth.

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Dendrobium polysema (60),

This small to large sized, species occurs in New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands and Vanuatu at elevations of 1200 to 1900 meters and from the Solomon Islands, Bougainville Island, the Santa Cruz Islands, and Vanuatu were it is found at 150 to 750 meters in mist forests on mossy tree trunks and main branches with erect, 3 to 5 nodes below the leaves, yellow stems carrying, 2, elliptical-oblong, erect to spreading leaves.

Very similar to or synomonous with Dendrobium macrophyllum.The flower of this species is much smaller in size compared to standard Dendrobium macrophyllum.

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Dendrobium spectabile (90) ,

Dendrobium spectable is a warm growing species native to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The 18 inch to 2 foot long canes produce masses of flowers that look like aliens from another world. The plant is easy to grow and flower if you follow the recommended cultural instructions. The flowers are long lasting and have a honey like scent. This plant requires good light to grow and flower properly.This plant typically flowers in the winter and early spring months but can also flower in late August through October. Each flower spike can produce 10 - 20 three inch flowers coloured in cream, tan, mahogany, purple, and green.

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Flickingeria comata (110),

A common lowland, sprawling, large epiphytic species at elevations of sealevel to 850 meters in Penninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Papua and New Guinea, Java, the Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, NE Australia, Taiwan, Solomon Islands, Vauatu, Samoa, New Caledonia and Fiji . Its found on trees in open forests or in small trees after logging . Flower with 7 to 8 noded, clavate stems that branch from the upper 2 nodes and dry to yellow or orange and carrying very coriaceous, elliptic, obtuse leaves and the several, basal, terminal or from the upper nodes of the stem, single flowered inflorescence appear from woody to chaffy, ovate, acute bracts at the leaf axis.

Reference of Flickingeria comata. Dendrobium polysema adopted from “The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia”.

Fruits of St. Kitts

St. Kitts Post has issued the stamp series feature the fruits of St. Kitts that comprised of 4 single stamps depicted Cherries, Coconut, Watermelon, Tangerines and one souvenir sheet depict Papaya fruit. There are colourful stamps.2007STK0707D0

Cherries (10c),The cherry is a fleshy stone fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species.Cherries contain anthocyanins, the red pigment in berries.True cherry fruits are born by members of the sub-genus Cerasus which is distinguished by having the flowers in small corymbs of several together and by having a smooth fruit with only a weak groove or none along one side. The subgenus is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with two species in America, three in Europe, and the remainder in Asia. The majority of eating cherries are derived from either Prunus avium, the wild cherry (sometimes called the sweet cherry), or from Prunus cerasus, the sour cherry.The cultivated forms are of the species wild cherry (Prunus avium) to which most cherry cultivars belong, and the sour cherry (P. cerasus), which is used mainly for cooking. Both species originate in Europe and western Asia.Cherries have a very short growing season and can grow in most temperate latitudes. The peak season for cherries is in the summer.

Coconut (15c),Although coconut meat contains less fat than many oilseeds and nuts such as almonds, it is noted for its high amount of medium-chain saturated fat. About 90% of the fat found in coconut meat is saturated, a proportion exceeding that of foods such as lard, butter, and tallow.Coconut meat contains less sugar and more protein than popular fruits such as bananas, apples and oranges. It is relatively high in minerals such as iron, phosphorus and zinc.Young coconuts used for coconut water are called tender coconuts: when the coconut is still green, the endosperm inside is thin and tender, and is often eaten as a snack, but the main reason to pick the fruit at this stage is to drink its water. The water of a tender coconut is liquid endosperm. It is sweet (mild) with an aerated feel when cut fresh. Depending on its size a tender contains 300 to 1,000 ml of coconut water.The meat in a young coconut is softer and more gelatinous than a mature coconut, so much so, that it is sometimes known as coconut jelly. When the coconut has ripened and the outer husk has turned brown, a few months later, it will fall from the palm of its own accord. At that time the endosperm has thickened and hardened, while the coconut water has become somewhat bitter.

Watermelon (30c),Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ), can be both the fruit and the plant of a vine-like (scrambler and trailer) plant originally from southern Africa, and is one of the most common types of melon.The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon (although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind (green, yellow and sometimes white) and a juicy, sweet interior flesh (usually pink, but sometimes orange, yellow, red and sometimes green if not ripe). It is also commonly used to make a variety of salads, most notably fruit salad.Watermelon juice can also be made into wine.

A watermelon contains about 6% sugar and 92% water by weight also large amounts of beta carotene , As with many other fruits, it is a source of vitamin C.Watermelon is also mildly diuretic.

Notable is the inner rind of the watermelon, which is usually a light green or white colour. This area is edible and contains many hidden nutrients that most people avoid eating due to its unappealing flavour.Watermelon with red flesh is a significant source of lycopene.

Tangerines ($1),Tangerines are a good source of vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene. They also contain some potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B2 and B3. Tangerine oil, like all citrus oils, has limonene as its major constituent, but also alpha-pinene, myrcene, gamma-terpinene, citronellal, linalool, neral, neryl acetate, geranyl acetate, geraniol, thymol, and carvone.

Tangerines are most commonly peeled and eaten out of hand. The fresh fruit is also used in salads, desserts and main dishes. Fresh tangerine juice and frozen juice concentrate are commonly available in the United States. The number of seeds in each segment (carpel) varies greatly.The tangerine (Citrus tangerina) is an orange-coloured citrus fruit. It is a variety of the Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata). Tangerines are smaller than most oranges, and are usually much easier to peel and to split into segments. The taste is often less sour, or tart, than that of an orange.

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Papaya ($10),

The papaya (from Carib via Spanish), papaw or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, in the genus Carica.The ripe fruit is usually eaten raw, without skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten cooked, usually in curries, salads and stews. It has a relatively high amount of pectin, which can be used to make jellies.Papaya is marketed in tablet form to remedy digestive problems.Papain is also applied topically (in countries where it grows) for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns. Papain ointment is commonly made from fermented papaya flesh, and is applied as a gel-like paste.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Pica Pica - Estonian Bird 2003

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The Estonian Ornithological Society has chosen Pica pica as bird of the year 2003. This stamp has issued on February 2003.

Pica pica or known as The European Magpie, is a resident breeding bird throughout Europe, much of Asia and northwest Africa.It is one of the commonest birds in Europe.

The characteristics of birds are :

Its head, neck and breast are glossy black with a metallic green and violet sheen.The belly and scapulars (shoulder feathers) are pure white. The wings are black glossed with green or purple, and the primaries have white inner webs, conspicuous when the wing is open. The graduated tail is black, shot with bronze-green and other iridescent colours. The legs and bill are black.The adult bird is 45-48 cm long. On the ground, the magpie skips on two legs, and its flight is of quick fluttering wing beats interspersed with short glides. It makes a loud chattering noise, and it lowers its long tail as it keenly observes the surroundings.

Pica pica or the European Magpie is omnivorous, eating both animal and plant material. It feeds on berries, seeds and fruit as well as insects, snails, slugs, small rodents.

The European Magpies are territorial and stay in their territory all year. The pairs are monogamous, and remain together for the duration of their lives. Should one of the two die, the widow or widower will find a new partner from the stock of yearlings.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Spring Flower of Estonia.

Estonia Post issued the souvenir sheet has comprised of four stamps featured the popular spring flowers that grown in Estonian gardens, such as : the Tulip, the Purple hellebore, the Poet’s Narcissus, Crocuses on March 2003.

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The tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about one hundred species of bulbous spring flowers from the Lily family. The tulip is renewed every spring and it grows many daughter bulbs. The tulip, particularly its bulbs, contains a potent allergen.In Estonia the tulip has been known since the end of the 18th century.

The purple hellebore (Helloborus purpurascens) is one species of the hellebore (Helleborus), which blossoms in our gardens in March and April. The hellebore have twenty species, two species .The hellebores contain toxic glycosides and cardiac stimulants are made from the roots of some hellebores.

The poet’s narcissus (Narcissus poëticus), which is very common in Estonian gardens. Narcissuses contain poisonous alkaloids, and several species also contain ethereal oils. The flowers are grown in Estonia since the early 18th century and about 500 varieties are known today.

Crocuses, of which there are about 80 species, mostly grow to about 10-15 centimetres in height. Stigmas of a purple-flowered crocus, Crocus sativus, are collected and dried as saffron. Mainly varieties and hybrids of the spring crocus (Crocus vernus) are grown in Estonia.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Pet Animals on Malta’s Stamps

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Pet Animals are animals kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song. Keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress to those who like having animals around. Mostly dogs have known as "therapy animals" . Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.People most commonly get pets for companionship, to protect a home or property, or because of the beauty of the animals.In many locations, animals that are considered pets by their owners but are legally classified as livestock, including horses, pigs, camelids, and fowl may be banned from being kept within the city limits or restricted to property of a certain larger size.

Regards to the human habits, Malta post has issued a miniature sheet featured the pet animals such as horse, dog, cat, fish , turtle, bird, rabbit, hamster or others mammals.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The life circle of Hawksbill Turtle on stamps.

The Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle species are relatively common in Fiji, whereas the Loggerhead and the Leatherback are quite rare.

The Hawksbill turtle is one of the smaller species and has a distinctive and very beautiful shell made up of overlapping plates. It is most easily recognised by the notched edges or 'spurs' to the 22 edge plates of its shell. The adult turtle is about 90cm long. Hawksbill turtles feed on sponges and soft corals, which are found on the reef. Hawksbill turtles live near the shore and the females come ashore on many small islands in the Fiji group between November and February to lay eggs.

The following stamps have issued by Fiji Post on 1997, depicted a stage in the turtle's life cycle that very little is known about on 4 stamps and one souvenir sheets. The issues are very helpful to human for learning the Hawksbill life.

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63 cents - Female Hawksbill

The stamp has depicted a female Hawksbill turtle, laying her eggs after having struggled up the beach to dig out her nest by using the front flippers and back flippers to form a vertical tunnel, the egg chamber. Turtles lay eggs every 2-3 years.The number of eggs laid, is generally between 100-200.

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81 cents - Group of baby hawksbill

This stamp depicted a group of Baby Hawksbill turtles emerging from the nest, and scrambling towards the sea. It is hard to tell the sex of a small turtle just by looking at it. An adult male can be identified by its long tail and long claws on the front of the flippers.

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$1.06 - Hawksbill at adolescence

After leaving the nest and entering the ocean, turtles are seldom seen until their carapace is 35-40cm long when they move to live and feed in shallow waters.Those hatchlings, which survive to cross the reef, swim until they reach deep water where ocean currents help the turtles drift for the first few years.

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$2 - The adult Hawksbill

The stamp depicted the results of many years of seclusion and a life fraught with danger.After mating, the males return to the feeding grounds, while the females stay near the nesting beaches, where a month later she clambers out of the sea and up to the beach to lay her eggs.

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Friday, October 29, 2010

Sea Turtles of Barbados

Barbados have issued the stamp featured the Turtles which comprised of 4 pieces stamps with different value each. The depicted turtle species are Green Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, and Leathered Turtle.

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10c Chelonia mydas, Green Sea Turtle.

Green Sea turtles are long-lived and require 25-35 years to reach sexual maturity in the Caribbean. Individuals of varying sizes between small juveniles and sub-adults are present in the waters surrounding Barbados throughout the year. Green turtles are herbivorous and in the Caribbean they feed primarily on the sea grass Thalassia testudinum. Adults attain weights of 230 kg and generally measure 95-120 cm straight-line carapace length (nuchal notch to posterior tip).Green turtles nest uncommonly in Barbados and adults are rarely seen. In contrast, juveniles are relatively common in coastal waters, especially on the east coast and more recently at “Swim with the Turtles” feeding sites on the west coast.

50c Caretta caretta, Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Loggerhead turtle is recognized by its large head, thick, somewhat tapered carapace , brown and gold or reddish- brown colouration, and characteristically heavy encrustation of invertebrate epifauna (especially barnacles). They have large head and strong jaws that are necessary adaptations to a diet of mollusks and hardshelled crabs; tunicates, fishes, and plants are also eaten.Loggerheads are not known to nest in Barbados, but juveniles and sub-adults were in the past occasionally caught opportunistically by pelagic fishermen.. The species is considerably rarer around Barbados than either the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle or the leatherback turtle.

$1.00 Eretmochelys imbricata, Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle is distinguished by a narrow, pointed beak with which it pries sponges and other soft-bodied organisms from the reef. The carapace is often posteriorly serrated and carapace scutes overlap, like shingles on a roof. They have bright mottled colouration (brown, orange, gold) .Adults rarely exceed 80 kg and a carapace length of about 90 cm .Hawksbills are "spongivores" feeding on reef-associated sponges in the Caribbean region.The numbers of hawksbills in the Caribbean were greatly reduced by over-exploitation for their shell (tortoiseshell) in the latter half of the last century. Numbers have recovered slowly since international trade in shell ceased. However, their habit of nesting on the highly developed west and south coast beaches of Barbados has meant that hawksbills are now threatened by coastal development and beach erosion.

$2.50 Dermochelys coriacea, Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherbacks Sea Turtle are the largest of all the sea turtles (nesting females often weigh 300-500 kg) and widely spread in any country but occurs in Barbados only during the egg-laying season. Leatherbacks are easily distinguished because they lack a bony shell. The smooth, black skin is spotted with white. The carapace is strongly tapered, measures 130-165 cm in length , and is raised into seven prominent ridges. Powerful front flippers extend nearly the length of the body. Adults are excellent divers, having been recorded at depths exceeding 1000 meters in Caribbean waters. Leatherbacks feed predominantly on jellyfish and other soft-bodied prey.

Woodland Spring Flowers of Estonia

On year 2004, Estonia Post issued stamp series featured the spring flower which grown in the Estonian woods. The depicted flower are the common dog-violet (Viola riviniana), the wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa),the common hepatica (Hepatica nobilis),the common globeflower (Trollius europaeus) .
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The Common dog-violet (Viola riviniana), can be seen flowering on moist soils in woods and in wooded meadows from the middle of May. The violet (Viola) is a genus of flowering herbs of about 500 species. Fifteen species grow naturally in Estonia.
The wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) blossoms in Estonian woods in the early spring. The anemone (Anemone) is a genus of poisonous perennials from the family Ranunculacae and it has nearly 150 species all growing in the northern hemisphere. The flowers are simple, mostly with white or blue petals and grow singly at the tip of high stem.
The Common hepatica (Hepatica nobilis) open in the early spring in decisious and mixed forests. The plant is poisonous before the growth of new leaves and has been used in folk medicine in earlier times. The hepatica (Hepatica) is a genus (family Ranunculaceae) of perennials of about ten species from the family Ranunculacae and it has about 10 species in the temperate zone of Eurasia and North America.
The common globeflower (Trollius europaeus) mainly grows in the meadows and wooden meadows of mainland Estonia. Globeflowers are poisonous plants.The globeflower (Trollius) is another genus of perennials from the family Ranunculaceae; there are 25 species mainly growing in the Arctic and temperate zones of the northern hemisphere.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Birds of Nevis

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Nevis has issued the stamp series depicted birds of Nevis, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Little Blue Heron, and Great White Heron. The stamps has issued on year 1975.

Broad-winged Hawk (20c), (Buteo platypterus) is a small hawk of the Buteo genus.Broad-winged Hawks inhabit forested areas.The diet is variable, but small mammals, like rodents and shrews, are the most regular prey. They are thought to take many amphibians,reptiles, insects and other invertebrates.Adult birds range in size from 34 to 45 cm , weight from 265 to 560 g and have a wingspan from 81 to 100 cm .

Red-tailed Hawk (40c),(Buteo jamaicensis)road-winged Hawks are long-distance migrants.They travel in large flocks during migration. During days with favourable winds, enormous kettles of tens of thousands of Broad-wings can be seen along flyways. Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey ,occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, tropical rainforests , agricultural fields and urban areas . It lives throughout the North American continent, except in areas of unbroken forest or the high arctic . The Red-tailed Hawk is carnivorous , and an opportunistic feeder. Its diet is mainly small mammals , but it also includes birds and reptiles . Prey varies with regional and seasonal availability, but usually centers on rodents , comprising up to 85% of a hawk's diet

Little Blue Heron (60c),Egretta caerulea, is a small heron.This species is about 60 cm (24 in.) long, with a 102 cm (40 in.) wingspan, and weighs 325 g .It is a medium-large, long-legged, heron with a long pointed blue or greyish bill with a black tip.The Little Blue Heron stalks its prey methodically in shallow water, often running as it does so. It eats fish , frogs crustaceans, small rodents and insects.It breeds from the Gulf states of the USA through Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and Uruguay .

Great White Heron ($3) are a white colour-phase of great blue herons and are only found in the Florida Keys. The refuge was created to protect great white herons from extinction since the population was decimated by the demand for feathered hats.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Botanic Garden 0f Singapore

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Worldwide there are now about 1800 botanic gardens and arboreta in about 150 countries (mostly in temperate regions) of which about 400 are in Europe, 200 in North America, 150 in Russia and an increasing number in East Asia. These gardens attract about 150 million visitors a year so it is hardly surprising that many people gained their first exciting introduction to the wonders of the plant world in a botanical garden.

Singapore Post issued a souvenir sheet for celebrating the 15o years of Singapore Botanic Gardens. The sheet comprised of one stamp depicted geese in the lake and background of the green plants surround it.

Botanic gardens are generally well-tended parks displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names. They may contain specialist plant collections such as cacti and succulent plants, herb gardens, plants from particular parts of the world. The botanic gardens are often run by universities or other scientific research organizations and often have associated herbaria and research programmes in plant taxonomy or some other aspect of botanical science. In principle their role is to maintain documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education, although this will depend on the resources available and the special interests pursued at each particular garden.

Philippine Wild Ducks.

Philippine post issued wild ducks stamp series in one souvenir sheet. The stamps depicted wild ducks, Northern Pintail, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Greater Scaup.

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The Northern Pintail or Anas acuta is a migratory fairly large duck, with the male's two long black tail feathers, which in flight look like a single pin or twig .These feathers are very distinctive, accounting for a quarter of the total length of the drake when in full plumage.Fast and graceful fliers, pintails are equipped with long wings, small heads, and long necks that seem built for streamlined aerodynamics. Both sexes have blue grey bills and grey legs and feet.The Northern Pintail is a bird of open wetlands which nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season.The Northern Pintail is a fairly large duck with a wingspan of 23.6–28.2 centimetres.The adult female is mainly scalloped and mottled in light brown with a more uniformly grey-brown head, and its pointed tail is shorter than the male’s; it is still easily identified by its shape, long neck, and long grey bill.The Northern Pintail has a large range, estimated at 10 million square kilometres and a population estimated at 6.1–7.7 million individuals. The population declined in more than 30% for ten years or three generations, and is evaluated as Least Concern.

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) is a waterfowl species shelduck genus Tadorna.The Common Shelduck resembles a small short-necked goose in size and shape. Common Shelduck is a striking bird, with a reddish-pink bill, pink feet, a white body with chestnut patches and a black belly, and a dark green head and neck. The wing coverts are white, some part in black and green (only showing in flight) . The underwings are almost entirely white. Sexes are similar, but the female is smaller, with some white facial markings,Common Shelduck is mainly associated with lakes and rivers in open country, breeding in rabbit burrows, tree holes, haystacks or similar.Common Shelduck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America.This species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its large spatulate bill. The breeding male has a green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border.Northern Shoveler feed by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bill from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water. Northern Shoveler also eats mollusks and insects in the nesting season.Northern Shoveler is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or marshes with some emergent vegetation.The Northern Shoveler is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.The conservation status of this bird is Least Concern.

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila), is a small diving duck.Greater Scaup breeds on the ground by lakes and bogs on the tundra and at the northern limits of the boreal forest across Arctic and subarctic regions of northern North America, Europe and Asia.The adult Greater Scaup is 42–51 cm long with a 71–80 cm wingspan. Greater Scaup has a blue bill and yellow eyes. The male has a dark head with a green sheen, a black breast, a light back, a black tail and a white bottom. The adult female has a white band at the base of the bill and a brown head and body.The Greater Scaup mainly eats mollusks and aquatic plants, obtained by diving and swimming underwater.The Greater Scaup is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Endangered Species of Canada.

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Canada post has issued the stamps series of the endangered species in one miniature sheet.The species are Prothonotary Warbler, Taylor’s Chekerspot, Roseate Tern, and Burrowing Owl. All stamps have same face value.

Prothonotary Warbler,is a small songbird of the New World warbler family and as the only member of the genus Protonotaria.The Prothonotary Warbler has characterized by 13 cm long and weighs 12.5 grams. They have an olive back with blue-grey wings and tail, yellow under parts, a relatively long pointed bill and black legs. They breeds in hardwood swamps in southern Canada and the eastern United States, nesting in a cavity, sometimes using old Downy Woodpecker holes.

Taylor’s Chekerspot or Euphydryas editha taylori, is a subspecies of Edith’s checkerspot, is a striking, red-, black- and white-checked butterfly. They are so named because of the checkerboard pattern on the dorsal side of the wings.The females can be larger than the males. Taylor’s checkerspots have been recorded in the Pacific Northwest from south-eastern Vancouver Island, through the Puget Trough (San Juan Islands to Tenino, Washington) and to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. In spite of intensive searching in 2001, there have been no confirmed sightings of this butterfly since 2000. This subspecies may be close to extirpation.
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