Malaysia’s First Day Cover 09 October 2008: Unique Flowers
October 9th 2008 08:11
This month’s issue is an interesting collection, that’s how I “managed” to overspend a little on the collection as it is just too awesome and I’ll be using those for Christmas / New Year cards. ^_^
Unique Flowers
Introduction
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 this Unique Flower stamps is an effort to increase the awareness of such flowers as well as to popularise Malaysian flowers.
Stamps valued at 30sen, 50sen and Miniature Sheet valued at 5 Ringgit.
30 Sen Design 1: Kenerak (Goniothalamus tapis)
The 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 leave 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.
The Kenerak is often planted in Malay villages, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu. The flowers are often sold in the markets.
Personal Note:
My neighbour I used to stay beside often like to pluck a flower or two and bless me to put in my car.
30 Sen Design 2: Kembang songsang or Climbing Lily in English (Gloriosa superba)
This plant is a species of lily that climbs up to 2.5 metres in height, aided by tendril-like tips at the narrow lanceolate its 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 upward, 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 Design 1: Rangoon creeper (quisqualis indica – or in malay Akar dani)
Rangoon Creeper is a climbing shrub and planted as ornamental plant because of its unique flowers. It can also be found growing wild, escaped from cultivation. 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 glooms at night and are very fragrant.
The plant is often planted as climber on fences, on special prepared pergola or left to climb on big trees.
50 Sen Design 2: Banana shrub (Michelia figo – or in malay Cempaka pisang)
The shrub is about 1 – 2 metres high, branched to form brush-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 flower 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 use the flowers to fragrant tea and the Malays used the flowers in aromatic bath and potpourri.
5 Ringgit miniature set: Gooseneck Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum – or in malay Bakawali)
A slender herb, under the family cactaceae grows up to 1 – 3 metre. It has a short main stem and long irregular branches that are flat and look like leaves that are jointed with edges that are scalloped, green or slightly brownish, about 6 – 10 cm wide, 25 – 45 cm long. The large white flowers are nocturnal, very fragrant with 20 – 25 cm, slender, curved red tubes and with red to yellow sepal, and numerous and the style is yellowish white or red and tipped with a lobed stigma.
The Chinese believe that Keng Hwa (that what the Chinese calls it) brings luck and used to grow them in big pots and placed them in front of their houses. It is associated with the belief that when the flowers open at midnight, fairies come out and bring luck.
P/S: I have an extra copy of the first day cover stamps, along with un-stamped 2 Ringgit stamp.
If you would love to purchase from me please PM me.
If you would love me to send you a postcard containing such rare flower stamps please do PM me and we’ll talk about some tiny fee you can help me with (don’t worry it is definitely less than 2 US dollars)
Unique Flowers
Introduction
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 this Unique Flower stamps is an effort to increase the awareness of such flowers as well as to popularise Malaysian flowers.
Stamps valued at 30sen, 50sen and Miniature Sheet valued at 5 Ringgit.
30 Sen Design 1: Kenerak (Goniothalamus tapis)
The 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 leave 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.
The Kenerak is often planted in Malay villages, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu. The flowers are often sold in the markets.
Personal Note:
My neighbour I used to stay beside often like to pluck a flower or two and bless me to put in my car.
30 Sen Design 2: Kembang songsang or Climbing Lily in English (Gloriosa superba)
This plant is a species of lily that climbs up to 2.5 metres in height, aided by tendril-like tips at the narrow lanceolate its 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 upward, 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 Design 1: Rangoon creeper (quisqualis indica – or in malay Akar dani)
Rangoon Creeper is a climbing shrub and planted as ornamental plant because of its unique flowers. It can also be found growing wild, escaped from cultivation. 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 glooms at night and are very fragrant.
The plant is often planted as climber on fences, on special prepared pergola or left to climb on big trees.
50 Sen Design 2: Banana shrub (Michelia figo – or in malay Cempaka pisang)
The shrub is about 1 – 2 metres high, branched to form brush-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 flower 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 use the flowers to fragrant tea and the Malays used the flowers in aromatic bath and potpourri.
5 Ringgit miniature set: Gooseneck Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum – or in malay Bakawali)
A slender herb, under the family cactaceae grows up to 1 – 3 metre. It has a short main stem and long irregular branches that are flat and look like leaves that are jointed with edges that are scalloped, green or slightly brownish, about 6 – 10 cm wide, 25 – 45 cm long. The large white flowers are nocturnal, very fragrant with 20 – 25 cm, slender, curved red tubes and with red to yellow sepal, and numerous and the style is yellowish white or red and tipped with a lobed stigma.
The Chinese believe that Keng Hwa (that what the Chinese calls it) brings luck and used to grow them in big pots and placed them in front of their houses. It is associated with the belief that when the flowers open at midnight, fairies come out and bring luck.
P/S: I have an extra copy of the first day cover stamps, along with un-stamped 2 Ringgit stamp.
If you would love to purchase from me please PM me.
If you would love me to send you a postcard containing such rare flower stamps please do PM me and we’ll talk about some tiny fee you can help me with (don’t worry it is definitely less than 2 US dollars)
| 140 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Anonymous
You know my address, so I will be looking forward to receive a postcard from you.
The stamps are very unique am sure the kids will be thrilled to see such beautiful postcard.
Lay-In.
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Awesome flowers, aren't they? I bought extras for special postcard send outs soon! And I know it cost less than 30 cents USD for a pair of them! ^_^
Yes I have your address.
Will send you a special postcard later!
Thanks again for supporting this site!