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.

The Swordfish

Swordfish are large , highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat bill.  They have characteristics are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood.

 

On April 7, 2003, Mayotte Post issued one stamp feature the Swordfish as part of their fauna stamp series. Swordfish found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m .They commonly reach 3 m  in length.

Mainly the swordfish relies on its great speed and agility in the water to catch its prey. Their  speed average of 60 mph .They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive.

Swordfish are vigorous, powerful fighters. When hooked or harpooned, they have been known to dive so quickly that they have impaled their swords into the ocean bottom up to their eyes. Although there are no reports of unprovoked attacks on humans, swordfish can be very dangerous when harpooned. They have run their swords through the planking of small boats when hurt.

Birds of Mayotte

 

Mayotte Post  issued a set of four stamps features birds species on September 21, 2012. The issues are depicting birds of Mayotte , i.e: Souimanga, Drongo, Faudy,  and Oiseau-lunette.

Souimanga

The Souimanga Sunbird (Cinnyris sovimanga) is a small passerine bird of the sunbird family, Nectariniidae. 

 

The Souimanga Sunbird is 10 cm long with a wingspan of 13 cm.The black bill is long, thin and curved. It is native to the islands of the western Indian Ocean where it occurs on Madagascar, the Aldabra Group and the Glorioso Islands.

Males of the nominate subspecies have a metallic green head, back and throat. The breast is blackish with a more or less continuous red band while the belly is yellow and the wings and tail are brown. There are yellow tufts at the sides of the breast which become visible when the birds lift their wings in courtship display

Fiji's "Teri" Purple Swamp

Fiji Post Limited issued a special souvenir sheet stamp consist of two stamps that features the endemic bird of Fiji, Fiji's "Teri" Purple Swamp, or the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) on July 20, 2006.

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), is a large bird in the family Rallidae (rails).  This chicken-sized bird, with its huge feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily-recognizable in its native range.

This species is sedentary, nomadic or partially migratory, with many populations making local seasonal movements in response to changing habitat conditions .

The species is mainly crepuscular and forages in the early-morning and late-evening.It breeds in solitary territorial pairs (especially in pastures)  or in small communal groups containing several breeding males, breeding females and non-breeding helpers (especially in swamps) .

Latvian National Bird

To dedicate the Latvian  Bird, Latvia Post  pleased to issue one stamp feature the White Wagtail or Motacilla alba as their National  Bird on August   30, .2003.

Motacilla alba

 

The White Wagtail is the national bird of Latvia. This is a slender bird, 16.5–19 cm in length  with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. The  basic  appearance  is   grey above and white below, with a white face, black cap and black throat.

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae which breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. The major diet of White Wagtails are terrestrial and aquatic insects and other small invertebrates.

Motacilla alba is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures.

Fiji's Endemic Fish–Siganus Uspi

 

Fiji Post Limited proudly to issue a set of four stamps feature their endemic fish, USP Rabbitfish or Siganus Uspi on August 2003.

 

USP Rabbitfish or Siganus uspi is known under several different names, Fiji Bicolor Foxface Rabbitfish. USP Rabbitfish lives in the Western Pacific and is considered endemic to the waters of Fiji. Occasional specimens have however been found in New Caledonia.

Classified(discovered) and named by Michael J. Gawel after USP (University of the South Pacific). Siganus uspi has not been evaluated for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Dolphins of the Pitcairn Islands

 

On April 26, 2012, Pitcairn Islands Post has been issued the stamp series feature dolphins which found in their islands. The dolphins species depicted on stamps are Fraser’s dolphin or Lagenodelphis hosei, Spinner dolphin or Stenella longirostris, Spotted dolphin or  Stenella attenuata, Spotted dolphin  or Stenella attenuata.

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.

Murex Shells of Fiji

 

Fiji Post Limited pleased to issue a set of four postage stamps feature Fiji’s murex shells on August 20, 2002. The issue stamps are depicting murex shells species : Saul’s murex or Chicoreus saulii, Murex tribulus or Caltrop Murex, Purple Pacific Droop or Drupa morvum , and Ramose Murex or chicoreus ramosus.

 

 

The 69c stamp present Saul’s Murex or Chicoreus saulii. Chicoreus saulii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

The shell size varies between 60 mm and 142 mm.This species is distributed in the Indian Ocean along the Mascarene Basin; in the Pacific Ocean along Japan and Papua New Guinea.

Chicoreus saulii is found almost exclusively on the seaward reef, either under rocks during the day or in ledges and small caves at night. It is nearly always found covered with its red sponge coat, although it can wear off on some older specimens. The shells with the sponge rarely have any kind of calcareous growths on the shell, but shells that lose the protective red covering quickly become encrusted.

Coral Reef Shrimps of Fiji

 

Fiji Post Limited  released a set of 4 postage stamps feature the Fiji’s Coral reef shrimps on  June 30, 2004 . The shrimp species depicted on stamps are Boxer shrimp or Stenopus tenuirostris, Bumblebee shrimp  or Gnathophyllum americanum, Mantis shrimp  or Odontodactylus scyllarus, Anemone shrimp or Peroclimenes brevicarpalls.

 

The 58 c stamp presents Blue Coral Shrimp, or Blue Boxing Shrimp , also known as Stenopus tenuirostris . Blue Coral Shrimp,  are also sometimes referred to as "Boxing Shrimp". Both males and females have very large front claws that can be close to their entire body length in size. They also have long, whisker-like antennae.

This tough and hardy critter is frequently seen cleaning parasites off of fish but is also capable of eating them as it grows larger. It is best known for wiping out complete populations of bristle worms. It will likely attack other shrimps and crustaceans; including snails.

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.