Creeper's flowers of Vietnam

 

On 1st August 2006, the Vietnam’s  Ministry of Post and Telematics (MPT) issued the stamp series  "Creeper’s flowers" consisting of 4 values which  depicts Momordica blossom , Fragrant cynanthe flower , Bitter melon blossom, Fiber melon blossom 

 

The stamps are featured in a lively and realistic style that highlights the beauty of these flowers. These are 4 familiar species which are grown on trellis for decoration. Its fruits are also used as good foods and medicament. They are very common and can be seen anywhere throughout Việt Nam

Fairy Lily of Vietnam

 

Fairy lily are petite members of the amaryllis family.It is useful as a border plant in front of the shrubberies and can decorate windows when in shallow pots or bowls.

The Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications issued the stamp series  "Fairy Lily“  consisting of 2 values with the denominations of 3,500 đ and 10,500 đ, on the 30th of July 2010, The stamp set shown two petite members of Fairy Lily in Vietnam, Pink Fairy Lily (Zephyranthes carinata Herb) and Yellow Fairy Lily (Zephyranthes ajax Hort).

•  3,500 đ - Pink Fairy Lily (Zephyranthes carinata Herb)

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Zephyranthes carinata, commonly known as the rosepink zephyr lily or pink rain lily, is a perennial flowering plant native to Central America. They have with large bright pink flowers, around 10 cm , and green strap-like leaves. They are found naturally in moist, open areas, often near woodlands.The flowers develop into more or less spherical or three-lobed capsules. The seeds are shiny black and flattened.The funnel-shaped flowers are solitary, with pink to rose red perianths.

The European Carp - Cyprinus Carpio Linnaeus

On the first day of April 2008, Vietnam Post released the stamp series features the European Carp or the common Carp, also known as Cyprinus Carpio Linnaeus. The issue stamp consist of 4 postage stamps with different denomination.

The European Carp can be recognized by its small eyes, thick lips with two barbels at each corner of the mouth, large scales and strongly serrated spines in the dorsal and anal fins. The color is variable, but often olive green to silvery grey dorsally, fading to silvery yellow on the belly.

The European Carp are reported to grow to over one meter in length, and 60 kg in weight.Inhabit warm, deep, slow-flowing and still waters such as lowland rivers and large, well vegetated lakes .

Vietnamese Orchids - 2008

On the first of March 2008, the Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) issued the stamp set: "Orchids" consisting of 4 values with their denominations of 800d; 2,000d, 6,000d and 8,000d.

The stamp set shows specialities Vietnamese orchids: Calanthe densiflora Lindl, Ludisia discolor (Ker-Gawl) A.Rich, Spathoglottis affinis de Vriese, Calanthe argenteo-striata C.Tang & S.Cheng. 

Orchid is one of beautiful and precious flowers. Orchids have diversified species. Each has own beauty. There are about 800 orchids species Vietnam, some of them are rare and precious ones with unique beauty and shape.

4-1: Calanthe densiflora Lindl.

Calanthe densiflora is a species of orchid from the genus Calanthe. Plant blooms in the fall with many 1.5 cm wide flowers.Plant is found growing in India, Myanmar, China, Taiwan and Vietnam at elevations of 160 to 1830 meters .Plants grows in intermediate to cool temperatures with shade. When potting Calanthe plants, the pseudobulbs must be half buried into the potting media.Plants should be watered regularly.

Fresh water Fish of Vietnam

Vietnam Post  has issued the stamp set features fresh-water fish in 7 (seven) pieces of different value stamps. The depicted species  are Brachy danio rerio, Trichogester trichopterus, Macropodus opercularis, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, Hyphessobrycon serpae, Labeo bicolor, and Betta splendens on 1984.

Brachy danio rerio or the zebra- fish, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is a popular aquarium fish, with the trade name zebra danio. The zebra fish is native to the streams of the southeastern Himalayan region, including the countries Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar. The fish has horizontal blue stripes on the side of the body extended to the end of the caudal fin. Its shape is fusiform and laterally compressed, with its mouth directed upwards.
Brachy danio rerio can grow to 6.4 centimetres .Life-span in captivity is around 2–3 years, although in ideal conditions, may extend to 5 years. Brachy danio rerio are hardy fish and considered good for beginner aquarists. Brachy danio rerio is omnivorous and primarily eats zooplankton, insects and insect larvae, and phytoplankton. Most of them accept common food flakes and tubifex worms in the aquarium.

Trichogaster trichopterus or The three spot gourami, , is a labyrinth fish. The natural coloration of this fish gets its name from the two spots along each side of its body in line with the eye, considered the third spot. These fish live in marshes, swamps, canals, and lowland wetlands. Trichogaster trichopterus are endemic to the Mekong basin in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam and Yunnan in Asia. They migrate during the flood season from permanent water bodies to flooded areas, such as seasonally flooded forests in the middle and lower Mekong. These fish is an omnivore, feed on zooplankton, crustaceans and insect larvae.

Macropodus opercularis or the paradise fish or paradise gouramis, are small freshwater labyrinth fish found in ditches and paddy fields in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to Northern Vietnam. Macropodus opercularis are fairly combative, harassing and attacking each other as well as potentially killing small fish. In the wild, they are predators, eating insects, invertebrates and fish fry. 

These small fish (about 10 cm) are ideal lone inhabitants of aquariums. This species is one of the few fish that can change its colour (lighter or darker) in response to stimuli. Sexing is easy as males are more colourful and have longer fins compared to the females. Macropodus opercularis are tolerant of virtually any water conditions, surviving in cool and warm waters alike.

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi or the black tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay and Guaporé River basins of southern Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Growing to about 6 cm total length, the black tetra has a roughly tetragonal body shape and is greyish in colour, fading from light at the nose to near black at the tail. Two prominent black vertical bars appear just posterior of the gills. It is a schooling fish, and requires at least 6 in a group. Gymnocorymbus ternetzi is an omnivore and will eat nearly anything it if can fit into its mouth. It will live in warm water 26 degrees C, needs soft, acid water, pH 6.5-6.8, with plenty of plants.

Hyphessobrycon Serpae or Serpae tetras are one species of the genus Hyphessobrycon. These South American tropical characids are popular aquarium fishes, often identified as Red Minor tetras. They are found in nature in the Madeira and Guaporé regions of the Amazon river, and in upper Paraguay. 

Hyphessobrycon Serpae prefer water temperatures ranging from 22-26°C. They will show off their best colours in soft, neutral to slightly acidic water. They thrive in large groups and should be kept in schools of at least 6-10 fish. The males are usually more slim and smaller than females.

Labeo bicolor or The Red-tailed black shark , is a species of fresh-water fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. It is currently extinct in the wild, but common in aquaria, where it is prized for its deep black body and vivid red or orange tail. The species was endemic to Thailand, and was formerly found in the Chao Phraya basin, but is now extinct in the wild. Typically females will have a slightly grayish hue, while males are pure black.

Betta splendens or called the Siamese fighting fish, is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. Also known as the betta and simply as the fighter. The wild ancestors of this fish are native to the rice paddies of Thailand and Cambodia and are called "Fighting Fish “in Thai. It has nicknamed "The Jewel of the Orient" due to their beauty and wide range of colours. The natural coloration of Beta splendens is a dull green and brown, and the fins of wild specimens are relatively short. 

However, brilliantly coloured and longer finned varieties have been developed through selective breeding. Betta splendens usually grow to an overall length of about 5 cm and lives approximately 2–5 years in captivity. Betta splendens has upturned mouths and is primarily carnivorous surface feeders, although some vegetable matter may be eaten. The male betta will flare his gills, twist his body, and spread his fins, if interested in the female.

Fowls on the Vietnam stamps

Fowls are included in pet animals, which very useful for human lifes. Vietnam Post Office has depicted them on the stamps, Plymouth Rock, Leghorn, Meleagris gallopavo or the Wild Turkey and etc . Total issues are 8 (eight) single stamp of different values.

The Plymouth Rock, often called simply Rocks or Barred Rocks (after their most popular color), is a chicken breed that originated in the United States. Plymouth Rocks were bred as a dual-purpose fowl, meaning that they were valued both for their meat and for the hens' egg-laying ability. The face of a Plymouth Rock is red with red ear lobes, a bright yellow beak, bay-colored eyes, and a single comb of moderate size. Their feathers are fairly loosely held but not so long as to easily tangle. There are seven varieties of Plymouth Rock chickens: barred, blue, buff, Columbian, partridge, silver-pencilled and white. Plymouth Rocks are large, long-lived chickens. Some varieties are good layers while others are bred principally for meat. They possess a long, broad back; a moderately deep, full breast; and yellow skin and legs. The hens have a deep, full abdomen, which is a sign of a good layer.

The Leghorn is a breed of chicken with origins in Tuscany, central Italy. The first birds imported to North America in 1853 were called Italians. By 1865 the breed was named after the Italian city of Livorno, on the western edge of Tuscany, which in English is also known as Leghorn.White Leghorns are among the most popular commercial strains of layer chickens worldwide. Leghorns rarely exhibit broodiness and are thus well suited for uninterrupted egg laying. The Leghorn is a light breed that matures quickly to only 3 or 4 lbs and is not considered a viable meat producer. Leghorns are active and efficient foragers. They typically avoid human contact and tend to be nervous and flighty

The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which was domesticated from the South Mexican subspecies of the Wild Turkey.Turkeys have a long, dark, fan-shaped tail and glossy bronze wings. As with many other species of the Galliformes, turkeys exhibit strong sexual dimorphism. The male is substantially larger than the female, and his feathers have areas of red, purple, green, copper, bronze, and gold iridescence. Wild Turkeys are omnivorous, foraging on the ground or climbing shrubs and small trees to feed. They prefer eating hard mast such as acorns, nuts, and various trees, including hazel, chestnut, hickory, and pinyon pine as well as various seeds, berries such as juniper and bearberry, roots and insects. Turkeys also occasionally consume amphibians and small reptiles such as newts and snakes.