Wealth of Latvian Forests - 2010

Continuing the previous released, Latvia Post has issued  a set of two stamps features the wealth of Latvian Forest  on 10 September 2010. The issue depicted species, Rubus idaeus (55)  and The birch bolete (120).

Raspberry or Rubus idaeus

Rubus idaeus or occasionally as European Raspberry to distinguish it from other raspberries is a red-fruited species of Rubus native to Europe and northern Asia and commonly cultivated in other temperate regions.

Rubus idaeus is grown primarily for its fruits, but occasionally for its leaves, roots, or other parts. The fruit is an important food crop, though most modern commercial raspberry cultivars derive from hybrids between of Rubus idaeus and Rubus  strigosus.The fruit is red, edible, and sweet but tart-flavoured, produced in summer or early autumn

Plants of Rubus idaeus are generally perennials which bear biennial stems  from a perennial root system. Its grows vigorously to its full height of 1.5-2.5 m. The flowers are produced in late spring on short racemes on the tips of these side shoots, each flower about 1 cm diameter with five white petals.

As a wild plant, Rubus idaeus typically grows in forests, forming open stands under a tree canopy, and denser stands in clearings. In the south of its range (southern Europe and central Asia), it only occurs at high altitudes in mountains.

Passion Fruit of Fiji

Dedicated to the Passion Fruit plants, Fiji Post Limited issued a set of four stamps features these specific fruit on September 29, 2009. The species depicted on stamps are Passiflora foetida, Passiflora edulis, Passiflora maliformis.

The 20c stamp present fruit Passiflora foetida.

Passiflora foetida is a species of passion flower that is native to the southwestern United States , Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and much of South America. It has been introduced to tropical regions around the world

The stems are thin and wiry, covered with minute sticky yellow hairs. Older stems become woody. The leaves are three- to five-lobed and viscid-hairy. When crushed, these leaves give off a pungent odor that some people consider unpleasant.

The flowers are white to pale cream coloured, about 5–6 cm diameter. The fruit is globose, 2–3 cm diameter, yellowish-orange to red when ripe, and has numerous black seeds embedded in the pulp; the fruit are eaten and the seeds dispersed by birds

Passiflora foetida contains high levels of saponins and is used as a substitute for soap in the manufacture of (soap-free) detergents .

Unique flowers of Malaysia

Malaysia Post pleased to launch a set of four stamps feature the unique flowers on October 9, 2008.

The issue stamps depicts the unique flowers of Malaysia, Kembang Songsang or Gloriosa superba, Goniothalamus tapis  or Kenerak, Quisqualis indica  or Akar dani,  Michelia figo or Cempaka Pisang.

Kembang Songsang or Gloriosa superba is A scandent plant, climbing by leaftip tendrils. The perianth segments, which are accrescent during anthesis and become reflexed, are striking in color, yellow proximally and at margins and dark red in the median portion.

Gloriosa superba is the national flower of Zimbabwe and it is also the state flower of Tamil Nadu state in India, and was the national flower of Tamil Eelam. This is a species of the genus Gloriosa.

Gloriosa is a genus of ten species in the plant family Colchicaceae.They are native in tropical and southern Africa to Asia. They are tender, tuberous rooted deciduous perennials, adapted to summer rainfall with a dormant dry season.

The Penny Bun of Iceland

In the early November 2012, Iceland Post  released one stamp  following the sixth of  Wild Mushroom stamp series. 

The issue stamp depicts the penny bun (Boletus edulis). Boletus edulis, commonly known as penny bun, is a basidiomycete fungus, and the type species of the genus Boletus.

The penny bun (Boletus edulis) is a large and fleshy pipe mushroom with a brown cap and white stem. It has a mild smell and a smooth nutty taste. The penny bun can often be found in old sunny birch woods or bushes.

It was first found in Vaglaskógur in the north of Iceland in 1960 and has since then been dicovered all over the country. The penny bun is among the most popular wild mushrooms in the world and is widely gathered in great quantities.

Tree Top Walk

To dedicated the  Care for Nature, Singapore Post issued a set of four stamps feature the “Tree Top Walk” species on October 19, 2005 . The species depicted on stamps are Red-crowned Barbet, Singapore Adenia, Colugo,  and Common Tree Nymph.

Red-crowned Barbet

The Red-crowned Barbet (Megalaima rafflesii) is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. 

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Singapore Adenia  or Adenia macrophylla var. singaporeana

The Singapore Adenia is a botanical variety of the species Adenia macrophylla. This variety occurs only in Johor and Singapore. Here, this nationally rare forest-edge species is found in Chek Jawa and along the pipeline in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

 

 

Wealth of Latvian Forest - 2008

Latvia Post released  a set of two stamps feature the Wealth of Latvian Forest on September 6, 2008.

The issue stamps depict flora species, Vaccinum myrtillus or  Blueberry, Leccinum Aurantiacum.

The 22 stamp present fruit species, Vaccinium myrtillus.

Vaccinium myrtillus is a species of shrub with edible fruit of blue color, commonly called  "European blueberry". It is more precisely called Common Bilberry or Blue Whortleberry, to distinguish it from other Vaccinium relatives. Vaccinium myrtillus is found natively in Europe, northern Asia, Greenland, Western Canada, and the Western United States. It occurs in the wild on heathlands and acidic soils. It is one of the wild origins and predecessors of the North American blueberry.

Vaccinium myrtillus has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine. Herbal supplements of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) on the market are used for circulatory problems, as vision aids, and to treat diarrhea and other conditions.

Since bilberries are more fragrant, and have more concentrated flavor and vitamins (like all more natural wild fruit varieties), they are especially well suited for making cough syrups and bilberry wine.In traditional medicine, Bilberry leaf is used for different conditions, including diabetes.

Vegetable Blossoms

On March 08, 2012, Switzerland-La Poste pleased to launch a set of three stamps feature vegetable blossoms.  The issued stamps depict tomato’s flower, runner bean’s flower, onion’s flower.

The 140 stamp present Tomato flower. Tomato plants are dicots, and grow as a series of branching stems, with a terminal bud at the tip that does the actual growing. Most tomato plants have compound leaves, and are called regular leaf (RL) plants.

Their flowers, appearing on the apical meristem, have the anthers fused along the edges, forming a column surrounding the pistil's style. Flowers in domestic cultivars tend to be self-fertilizing. The flowers are 1–2 centimetres  across, yellow, with five pointed lobes on the corolla; they are borne in a cyme of three to 12 together.

Garden Flowers of Liechtenstein

After succeed  three part Definitive series “Butterflies”, Liechtenstein Post issued the 2012 definitive stamps with the theme  "flower garden". In the first, again designed by Stefan Erne issue the peony, dahlia and zinnia are shown.

The  CHF 0.85 stamp present "Dahlia" , Dahlia hortensis , which originally from Central America and Mexico native and from the beginning of the 19th century introduced in Europe. This species  belongs to the daisy family and is another common ornamental plant that blooms from July to October. The approximately 20,000 different varieties of dahlias are divided into 10 groups of species. On a semi-permanent mark Cactus Dahlia (variety "kumquat") is shown.

Popular Flower on Stamps – Rose

On March 25, 2011, to mark the coming of the spring, Latvia Post has released a new stamp in the Popular Flowers series - the Rose designed artist Lilija Dinere. The flower motif in stamps is very popular among clients, ”Rose is a very beautiful, bright, summery stamp “. Therefore  Latvia Post has chosen, Rose as part of  a special series dedicated to popular flowers.

A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing or trailing with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles.

Flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds.

Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant.

Dragonflies of Vanuatu

The  dragonflies appeared over long time ago and  they have developed into many different sub species. There are more than 5000 species of dragonflies existing in the world today. Now dragonflies have  been included   in the  Vanuatu’s ecosystem as  the  valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, ants and wasps .

Vanuatu Post pleased to launch a set of four stamps and one unique souvenir sheet features the species of Dragonflies which found in Vanuatu on February 22, 2012. The stamp set designed by Sue Wickison from Wellington, New Zealand. The depicted species are Yellow striped Flutterer Rhyothemis Phyllis , Globe Skimmer Pantala flavescens , Fiery Skimmer Orthetrum villosovittatum,  and Painted Grasshawk Neurothemis stigmatizans.

Flower Growing - Beauty of Orchids

Orchids are easily distinguished from other plants, as they share some very evident apomorphies. Among these are: bilateral symmetry (zygomorphism), many resupinate flowers, a nearly always highly modified petal (labellum), fused stamens and carpels, and extremely small seeds.

All orchids are perennial herbs, lack any permanent woody structure, and can grow in monopodial and sympodial patterns.

The world's richest concentration of orchid varieties is found in the tropics, mostly Asia, South America and Central America.

To dedicated the beauty of orchids, Czech  Post  pleased to launch a set of four stamps which composed in one beautiful miniature sheet.

 

The species depicted on stamps  are Dendrobium peguanum, Stanhopea tigrina, Cattleya aclandiae and Paphiopedilum charlesworthii.

Popular Flower on Stamps – Peony

On March 26, 2010, Latvia Post  pleased to issue one stamp depicts Peony flower as part of their programs featuring the popular flower on stamps.  Peonies are  native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America. Each flower type becomes more complex in its arrangement of petals.

Peonies are also extensively grown as ornamental plants for their very large, often scented flowers. Peonies tend to attract ants to the flower buds. This is due to the nectar that forms on the outside of the flower buds, and is not required for the plants' own pollination or other growth.

Hidden Beauties of Larch Flower

Service des Postes de Saint Pierre et Miquelon launched  one stamp features the hidden beauty of  Flower on February 9, 2011. This stamp depicts Larch flower with face value of  1.05 Euro.

Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 20 to 45 m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south. Larch are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada.

Spring Flowers of Croatia

The Croatian Post Inc. has issued a set of three stamps feature Spring flower species as part of their flora series 2012 on March 15, 2012. The depicted species are  Snowdrop ( galanthus nivalis), Primrose ( Primula vulgaris),  and Spring crocus ( Crocus Vernes).

Snowdrop ( Galanthus nivalis)

Galanthus nivalis or Snowdrop is widely grown in gardens, particularly in northern Europe, and is widely naturalized in woodlands in the regions where it is grown. It is, however, native to a large area of Europe, from Spain in the west, eastwards to the Ukraine.

Snowdrops or Galanthus nivalis grows to around 7–15 cm tall, flowering between January and April in the northern temperate zone (January–May in the wild).  They are perennial, herbaceous plants which grow from bulbs.

Wealth of Latvian Forests - 2009

Latvia Post pleased to present the wealth of Latvian forest on the stamp set on September 12, 2009. The issue comprises of two stamps feature the wild strawberries (fragaria vesca) and the edible mushroom, Russula paludosa.

 Wild strawberries – Fragaria vesca

Fragaria vesca, commonly called wild strawberries or woodland strawberry, is a plant that grows naturally throughout the Northern Hemisphere, include all of Europe. Woodland strawberry fruit is strongly flavored, and is still collected and grown for domestic use and on a small scale commercially for the use of gourmets and as an ingredient for commercial jam, sauces, liqueurs, cosmetics and alternative medicine.

Fragaria vesca is sometimes used as an herbal medicine; an herbal tea made from the leaves, stems, and flowers is believed to aid in the treatment of diarrhea.

'Vanuatu Colours of Bloom'

On December 7, 2011, Vanuatu Post launched the 'Vanuatu Colours of Bloom' stamp issue which portrays the vibrant flowers found all over Vanuatu. These are typically characterized by having green flower clusters. It is the vibrancy of the splendid blooms which are found all over Vanuatu and their colours stand out, both in the Port Vila market and in other markets and gardens throughout the islands.  Vanuatu Post has chosen Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise) to join three Heliconias - Heliconia psittacorum, Heliconia rostrata and Heliconia caribaea var in this colourful stamp issue.

Heliconia psittacorum  or known as Parrot's  beak, False Bird-Of-Paradise is a perennial herb native to the Caribbean and northern South America. Heliconia psittacorum flowers are actually highly modified leaves and bracts growing up to no more than four feet tall.

The parrot's beaks are exotic, abundantly bloomers all year long. The flower, or inflorescence of the Heliconia stays almost constant, and may last from several days to several months.

Heliconias like places with a lot of water, rich soil, and sunlight. Heliconia psittacorum does not mind cool temperatures, but does best in warm, humid areas. It is often cultivated as a tropical ornamental plant.

Fungi of Ireland

Ireland Post has chosen the subject for 2008 flora-fauna stamp to be issued is Fungi. They issued four stamps, one in souvenir sheet and others in single forms on August 1, 2008. Illustrated by Ian Loe, each of the four stamps features a species of fungus found in Ireland, such as: the Pink Waxcap (Hygrocybe calyptriformis), the Parasol (Macrolepiota procera), the Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle) and the Scarlet Elfcup (Sacoscypha austriaca).

The parasol (Macrolepiota procera) is a basidiomycete fungus with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a lady's parasol. The parasol (Macrolepiota procera) is a striking, elegant mushroom reaching height of 40 cm with caps expanded to 25 cm. It is found solitary or in groups and fairy rings in pastures and occasionally in woodland. 

Globally, it is widespread in temperate regions.It is an excellent edible fungus but needs to be distinguished from its look-alike, the Shaggy Parasol, to which some individuals are allergic.

Flora Fauna of Burundi

Burundi Post released the stamp set features the flora fauna of their country on December 24, 2008. The species have depicted on the five postage stamps are Erythrina, Maracuja, Werner, Heron, and Royal Eagle.

The 90F stamp   represented a Erythrina flower. Erythrina  is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains about 130 species, which are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Erythrina is tree that can  growing up to 30 m  in height. Many species of Erythrina have bright red flowers, and this may be the origin of the common name.

Not all species of Erythrina have bright red flowers.Many birds visit the nectar-rich Erythrina flowers. Erythrina leaves are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the swift moth Endoclita damor and the woolly bears Hypercompe eridanus and Hypercompe icasia.

Aromatic plants – Comoros

The Post of Comoros issued the stamp series of aromatic plants on  October 9,  2003 . The issue comprises of two postage stamps depicted Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata ), and Vanille (Vanilla planifolia).

Ylang-Ylang or Cananga odorata,  kenanga (Indonesian), fragrant cananga, Macassar-oil plant  is a tree valued for its perfume. The essential oil derived from the flowers is used in aromatherapy.

Cananga  odorata is a fast-growing tree of the custard-apple family, Annonaceae and attains an average height of 12 m . It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its native rainforest habitat.

The evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy, oval, pointed, with wavy margins, and 13–20 cm  long. The flower is drooping, long-stalked, with six narrow, greenish-yellow (rarely pink) petals, rather like a sea star in appearance, and yields a highly fragrant essential oil.

Wildflower of Ireland

Ireland Post issued the sixth definitive stamp series of Wildflowers of Ireland on March 1, 2007. The issue comprises of four postage stamps with denomination value 3c, 55c, 78c, and 95c. 

The species of wildflower depicted  are Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) on the 3c stamp,  Large-flowered butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora) on the 55 c stamp, Black bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) on the 78 c stamp, Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife) on the 95 c stamp.

Yellow flag or Iris pseudacorus is an herbaceous flowering perennial plant, native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa, growing to 1-1.5 m (or a rare 2 m) tall, with erect leaves up to 90 cm long and 3 cm broad. The flowers are bright yellow, 7-10 cm across, with the typical iris form.

The fruit is a dry capsule 4-7 cm long, containing numerous pale brown seeds. Yellow flag is a species in the genus Iris, of the family Iridaceae.