Malaysia 9.10.2008 - Unique Flowers of Malaysia

There are many varieties of flowers found in Malaysia and there are some species that are attractive and unique due to their special shape or rare fragrance. Most traditional Malay landscape comprise of plants with fragrant flowers, leaves and wood. In fact, most traditional poetry refers to these unique traits. The issuance of these  Unique Flower stamps was an effort to increase the awareness of such flowers as well as to popularize Malaysian flowers.  The stamps were issued on 9.10.2008. A brief description of the stamps on the FDC are given below.

30 sen: Kenerak is a shrub or small tree up to 3 metres high with ascending branches and shot twigs forming conical or uneven crown. Leaves are oblong in shape, widest near apex and bluntly tipped, 12 - 24 cm long, 6 – 11 cm wide, dull yellow green. Flowers grow solitary on leaf twigs hanging from short stalks. Calyx is green in colour, and outer petals are cream white or pale yellowish and very fragrant. The fruits are ellipsoid, 1.2 cm long, red in colour and turn purplish black as it ripens. Kenerak is often planted in Malay villages, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu. The flowers are often sold in the markets.

30 sen: Climbing Lily. This plant is a species of lily that climbs up to 2.5 metres in height, aided by tendril-like tips at the of its narrow lanceolate shaped leaves. The flowers are attractive and unique with narrow yellow and red curly edged petals. When it blooms, the flower turns inside out and points upwards, with the stamens and pistil more or less horizontal. The plant has underground bulb which is poisonous.The plant is cultivated in Malaysian gardens for its unique and attractive flowers. Malays call it Bunga Kembang Songsang because when the flowers fully bloom the petals grow inverted.

50 sen: Rangoon Creeper is a climbing shrub, and is planted as an ornamental plant because of its unique flowers. It can also be found growing wild. The flowers are very attractive and borne in short clusters. The flower tube is 5 cm long and the petals are white but turn to red when matured. The flower blooms at night and are very fragrant. The plant is often planted as climber on fences, on specially prepared pergolas or left to climb on big trees.

50 sen: Banana Shrub. The shrub is about 1 – 2 metres high, branched to form bush-shaped canopy. The leaves are elliptical in shape, 5 – 10 cm long, 2 – 6 cm wide, with short petiole, and dark green in colour. The flowers are about 3-4 cm in diameter when fully opened, the bracts are brownish and hairy, and the petals are yellowish white with slightly purplish base. The flowers are fragrant reminiscent of banana. In Malaysia the plant seldom bear fruits.

The Chinese community uses the flowers to fragrant tea and the Malays use the flowers in aromatic bath and potpourri.

The Karelian Rose 5.5.1994

The stamp on this cover depicts the famed Karelian Rose. The stamp was issued in Finland on 5.5.1994. My friend Pia gave me this FDC.

The Karelian rose is the county flower of North Karelia. It is a continental species, and its distribution in Finland is evidently eastern. This species is densely covered in prickles which are straight and needle-like. This is the best distinguishing character between the Karelian rose and the very similar cinnamon rose as the prickles of the latter can also be hooked. Furthermore, the flower-stalks of the Karelian rose are usually covered with glandular hairs, whereas those of the cinnamon rose are hairless. Also the shape of the hip differs somewhat.

12th Meeting of Heads of Governments of the Commonwealth 4.10.1993

In 1993 Cyprus hosted the 12^th Meeting of Heads of Governments of the Commonwealth.

Recognising the importance of the Commonwealth, the Department of Postal Services of Cyprus issued two special stamps, to honour this meeting. The designing of the stamps is based on motifs from the decoration of a Cypro-Geometric bowl (1050-750 B.C.) found at the locality of Agia Anastasia, Lapithos and now at the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary union of independent states co-operating in the advancement of international understanding and peace for the common benefit of their peoples. The member countries of the Commonwealth were former colonies of Great Britain which gained their independence. The Commonwealth is characterized by a continuous development process and contributes in a positive way to the solution of problems currently facing the human race. The Commonwealth consists of 50 member countries with a population amounting to one fourth of the world population. It is spread all over the continents embracing peoples of different religions, languages and civilizations, united in their belief in the common principles of freedom, justice and equality irrespective of religion, colour or race. The developing relations between the Governments of the member countries supported and fostered by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Institute and the Commonwealth Foundation as well as by the activities of a large number of non-Governmental Organizations contribute towards extending the Commonwealth's role to cover every aspect of life of these peoples.

Thank you Merja for this nice FDC.

Surtsey Island

Surtsey is a new island formed by volcanic eruptions in 1963-67. It has been legally protected from its birth and provides the world with a pristine natural laboratory. Free from human interference, Surtsey has produced long-term information on the colonisation process of new land by plant and animal life.

Surtsey was born as a new volcanic island in 1963-67 and since that time has played a major role in studies of succession and colonisation. It has been the site of one of the few long term studies worldwide on primary succession, providing a unique scientific record of the process of colonisation of land by plants, animals and marine organisms. Not only is it geographically isolated, but it has been legally protected from its birth, providing the world with a pristine natural laboratory, free from human interference. Above all, because of its continuing protection, Surtsey will continue to provide invaluable data on biological colonisation long into the future.

The new island was named after Surtr, a fire jötunn or giant from Norse mythology. It was intensively studied by volcanologists during its eruption, and afterwards bybotanists and biologists as life forms gradually colonised the originally barren island. The undersea vents that produced Surtsey are part of the Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann Isles) submarine volcanic system, part of the fissure of the sea floor called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Vestmannaeyjar also produced the famous eruption of Eldfell on the island of Heimaey in 1973. The eruption that created Surtsey also created a few other small islands along this volcanic chain, such as Jólnir and other, unnamed peaks. Most of these eroded away fairly quickly.

The three stamps on the FDC were issued on 23.6.1965 showing the Surtsey Island in the process of evolving. Thank you Maria for this nice FDC.

Estimates of how long Surtsey will survive are based on the rate of erosion seen up to the present day. Assuming that the current rate does not change, the island will be mostly at or below sea level by 2100. However, the rate of erosion is likely to slow as the tougher core of the island is exposed: an assessment assuming that the rate of erosion will slow exponentially suggests that the island will survive for many centuries. An idea of what it will look like in the future is given by the other small islands in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, which formed in the same way as Surtsey several thousand years ago, and have eroded away substantially since they were formed.

Helsinki Stamp Fair

Helsinki stamp Fair is the largest annual philatelic event in Finland. It gathers thousands of collectors. The Helsinki stamp fair is arranged by the largest stamp company in Finland; Suomen Filateliapalvelu oy – Philatelic service of Finland. This year it was held on 28.10.2012.  Theme for this year was ‘Navigation’, and very appropriately the stamp features the Titanic. An exhibition card (as shown here) was also issued on the occasion.

The cancellation is in the shape of a scuttle or porthole cover, securely battened down. Thank you Ella for the cover (below) and the card.

Centenary of the Electric Power Plant at Tampere 15.3.19821

Finnish power plant operation is considered as having started on March, 15 in 1882. A prestigious crowd of distinguished guests witnessed lights being switched on in Finlayson weaving factory in Tampere marking this great event. A  total of 160 light bulbs. From this historic moment began the regular consumption of electricity in Finland. 

The Cover has depictions of Edision's bulb and a dynamo. Thank you Pia for this nice FDC.

Kuopio 4.3.1982

Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, . A popfinlandulation of 98,309 makes it the ninth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of 2,317.24 square kilometres (894.69 sq mi), of which 719.85 km² (277.94 sq mi) is water and half forest. The population density is only 62 /km²(160 /sq mi), but the city's urban areas are populated very densely (urban area: 1 617.6 /km²), nationally second only to capital Helsinki (urban area: 1,690.0/km²). The population of the entire Kuopio region is 119,472.

The town of Nilsiä is joining Kuopio at the beginning of the year 2013. After that, Kuopio’s population will be well over 100,000.

Kuopio celebrated its 200 years 04/03/1982. And hence, the issue of this interesting stamp and the FDC showing the Coat of Arms of this historic city. Thank you Pia.