The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Post has issued the stamp series features the coastal flower which can live in shoreline. This issue stamps depict the Ipomoea pes-caprae, Hisbicus insularis, Suriana maritima and Morinda citrifolia.
Ipomoea pes-caprae, also known as Beach Morning Glory or Goat's Foot, is a common pantropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. Goat's Foot is common on the sand dunes of Australia's upper north coast of New South Wales and can also be found along the entire Queensland coastline.
It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is one of the most common and most widely distributed salt tolerant plants and provides one of the best known examples of oceanic dispersal. Its seeds float and are unaffected by salt water.
Hibiscus tiliaceus is a species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae,It is reaches a height of 4–10 m , with a trunk up to 15 cm in diameter.The flowers are bright yellow with a deep red centre upon opening. Over the course of the day, the flowers deepen to orange and finally red before they fall. The branches of the tree often curve over time. It is a common coastal plant in Eastern and Northern Australia, Oceania and Southeast Asia. It grows best in slightly acidic to alkaline soils (pH of 5-8.5).
Suriana maritima is a monotypic genus of flowering plants ,known as Bay Cedar. It has a pantropical distribution and can be found on coasts in the America and sometimes Oceania (Australasia). The grey-green, succulent foliage yields an aroma similar to that of cedar when crushed, hence the common name.
It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually reaching a height of 1–2 m and sometimes reaching 6 m .The leaves are alternate, simple, 1–6 cm long and 0.6 cm wide. Its yellow flowers are solitary or in short cymes among the leaves. Flowers have a diameter of 1.5 cm when open, with petals 6–10 mm long and sepals 7–10 mm long. Suriana maritima flowers throughout the year.
Morinda citrifolia grows in shady forests as well as on open rocky or sandy shores. It reaches maturity in about 18 months and then yields between 4–8 kilograms of fruit every month throughout the year. It is tolerant of saline soils, drought conditions, and secondary soils. It is therefore found in a wide variety of habitats: volcanic terrains, lava-strewn coasts, and clearings or limestone outcrops. It can grow up to 9 metres tall, and has large, simple, dark green, shiny and deeply veined leaves.
The plant bears flowers and fruits all year round. The fruit is a multiple fruit that has a pungent odour when ripening, and is hence also known as cheese fruit or even vomit fruit. It is oval in shape and reaches 4–7 centimetres (1.6–2.8 in) size. It contains many seeds.
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