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 .

Marine Life – Montserrat 2010

On February 12, 2010, Montserrat Post has issued the marine life stamp series that features the Basket stars, Sea Anemone, Spiny Lobsters, and Spotted Drum. Each of issue stamps have different nominal value,  $ 1.10, $ 2.25, $ 2.50, $2.75 and $ 5.0.

Basket Star – $ 1.10

 

The Basket  stars  are  a group of brittle stars and has characteristic many-branched arms. Their habitat  are deep sea with the life span  is up to 35 years in the wild. They weigh around  5 kg. Like other echinoderms, basket stars lack blood and achieve gas exchange via their water vascular system.The basket stars are the largest ophiuroids with Gorgonocephalus stimpsoni measuring up to 70 cm in arm length with a disk diameter of 14 cm.

Dolphin on Micronesia’s stamp

The Micronesia Post issued the stamp set features dolphin species, Southern Right Whale Dolphin, Northern Right Whale Dolphin, Chinese White Dolphin, and Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin on September 04, 2009

Southern Right Whale Dolphin -95c

Southern right whale dolphins  or Lissodelphis peronii are the only dolphins without dorsal fins in the southern hemisphere. They are smaller than northern right whale dolphins and have more white on their head and sides. They have slim, graceful bodies which are black on the upper side and white underneath. Their flippers are mainly white and are small and curved. Their flukes are small with a notch in the middle and concave trailing edges. Their beaks are small but distinct.

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.

Wild Flowers of Gibraltar -2004

On January 31, 2006, Gibraltar Post has issued the definitive stamps 2004, features the wild flower of Gibraltar, which represented are Gibraltar restharrow, Paper-white narcissus, Gibraltar campion, and Sea daffodil.

Gibraltar restharrow or Ononis natrix

This variety of the species is endemic to Gibraltar.The plants grown on coastal sands, and can be found in large numbers on the East Side sand slopes. The wildflower have typical shape of the pea family and has yellow colour , around 1.5 cm across.

The Many-coloured Fruit-Dove

 

 

The Many-coloured Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus perousii), also known in Samoa as Manulua, is a small multi-coloured dove growing up to 250mm in length , as a species of bird in the Columbidae family.

The male dove is a pale yellow-white colour with a red-crimson crown and bar across its back. The female is mostly green and grey on the head and breast with a red-crimson crown and undertail-covert area  as red. These red-crimson coverts differentiate these doves from those of Fiji and Tonga where the coverts are yellow.

Niue Birds -2011

 

Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands. The terrain consists of steep limestone cliffs along the coast with a central plateau rising to about 60 metres above sea level. A coral reef surrounds the island, with the only major break in the reef being in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi. A notable feature is the number of limestone caves found close to the coast.  A quarter of Niue consist of  virgin rainforest, it is little surprise that there is an equally stunning array of exotic birdlife complementing this island paradise.

 

While many fascinating birds call Niue home, this bird-themed stamp issued by Niue Post  features three of Niue's favourite species on July 06,2011.The individual stamps in this issue are depict bird species, Miti, Heahea, and Kulukulu.

New Zealand’s Beyond the coast

 

New Zealand’s 15,000 kilometres of coastline are home to magnificent coves, bays, harbours, sounds and fiords. Beyond this irregular coastline lies a roughly 4.3 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone that hosts an array of unique marine life. More than 15,000 species are known to live there, of which many are migratory. New Zealand's isolation means that a large number of these species are unique to our island nation, and scientists believe that many more have yet to be found. New Zealand’s varied marine animals are brilliantly portrayed in this vibrant stamp issue: Beyond the Coast.

he self-adhesive stamp sheet consists of 12 stamps (10 x 60c and 2 x $1.90 stamps), and  capturing a unique part of our stunning wildlife, this stamp issue really is a tribute to New Zealand ‘beyond the coast’

 

 

Unearth New Zealand’s unique marine animals really depicted in the stamp sheet.The stamp sheet depicts  a visual delight and  reflective of the diversity of New Zealand’s ecosystem. The white-faced storm petrel flutters above the surface of the water, while lurking below is a range of fish from the popular snapper to the yellow moray eel and the king crab in the depths of the ocean.

Weed Flowers of Norfolk Island

 

Norfolk Island is plentiful with many unpopular introduced plants commonly known as “weeds”. Many of these weeds, if taken time to notice, have beautiful flowers. So Norfolk Island Post issued the stamp series features the weed flower on February 6, 2007 and designed by Jodie Williams

 

 

Creeping Crofton Weed, 50¢ known as “William Taylor” after the gentleman who is thought to have introduced it to Norfolk, is a low sub shrub that takes over pastures.

Wildlife in Norway–Sixth series

On  January 03,  2011,  the Norway Post issued the sixth  wildlife series stamp. This issue stamps comprises of 2 postage stamps which feature the endangered species, Polar bear and Muskox.

Kr 17,00: Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is reckoned to be the largest land predator in the world, rivalled only by the Alaskan Kodiak bear.A full-grown polar bear on Svalbard weighs about 500 kg and usually has a maximum life span of 25 years.

The population there is now estimated at about 1500. The polar bear is the very symbol of the northern polar areas. It is the dream of everyone who visits the Arctic can see this species. Like as penguins are the signature species of Antarctica.

THE ENDANGERED FAUNA OF CROATIA

 

On 15 March 2011, the Croatia Post  issued the endangered species stamp series in 3 postage stamps. This issue depicts the Elenora’s Falcon, the Brown Bear, and Mediterranean Monk Seal.

 

 

 Eleonora’s Falcon is a smaller species of falcon, 36 – 42 cm long, weighting 350 – 450 g and with wing span of 87 – 104 cm. It comes in two varieties – light and dark – and sexes are distinguished by the colour of eye ring and vax gland. With mail it is in yellow and with female in blue.

 

 

In Croatia there are 80 – 90 nesting pairs, which is somewhat more than 0,5% of the world’s population.  According to newest estimations total world population is 15.000 nestling pairs, of which more than 80% in Greece. Eleonora’s falcon is listed in Red Book as endangered species in Croatia (EN), and is strictly protected by law.

Eleonora’s falcon nests in colonies, laying two to four eggs on mostly unapproachable cliffs of islands at sea, in August and September. Croatia is an edge area for this species, and entire or almost entire Croatian population mainly inhabits the islands of Vis, Svetac and Biševo and the nearby islets, but single birds have also been spotted on the islands of Palagruža and Jabuka. 

Flowers of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

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.

FRUIT- Cat`s head pear, Domesticated apple

 

The design of the stamps employs compositions reminiscent of still life and was issued on May 06, 2011. The HUF 145 stamp shows the domesticated apple and the HUF 310 stamp depicts the cat’s head pear. Both cultivars can be found in the Újfehértó Gene Bank Collection.

 

 

Domesticated apple - HUF145

Its origin is uncertain but it was certainly grown in the 16th century in France. In Hungary it is still grown in small gardens and vineyards on the Great Plain. It ripens in August. Its 240-300 g fruit is a flattened ball with a whitish yellow flesh and stripy skin, and there is also a single colour clone version. Its flesh is hard and highly acid with little flavour. It is favoured for its size and is widely used in cooking.

Blooms - Australian Cultivars

 

Cultivar is  a cultivated variety developed by selectively breeding in order to enhance or minimise traits common to other members of its species. Today’s gardeners owe much of their success to the availability of Australian cultivars. When selecting plants, modern gardeners look for more than just beauty. They demand plants that are hearty, disease resistant and easy to grow, no matter what colour their thumb. 

Five Australian flower cultivars are featured in this special issue of five stamps.The stamps feature Simon Griffiths’ superb photographs of the five cultivars. Each of the cultivars was photographed at the peak of its blooming period.

The cultivars in the stamp issue were specifically bred to produce spectacular blooms on hardy, disease resistant plants suitable for home cultivation. All are entirely Australian bred, and are widely available through commercial nurseries. Three of the featured Australian cultivars are from introduced species, the remaining two are natives.

  Hari Withers’ camellia:

The ethereal ‘Hari Withers’ camellia was bred by Dr R M Withers of Victoria and named in honour of his wife. Flowers average nine cm in diameter and appear mid-season on a fastgrowing, upright and spreading plant.

Described as formal double in style, they are very pale pink gradating to a deeper pink rosebud at the centre. ‘Hari Withers’ was registered in 1985 and is a Camellia x williamsii hybrid.