Republic of the Philippines - Stamps & Postal History

RP Issues of 2003

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2003, August 21.  Philippine Orchids - 19th Century European Old Prints

Litho Offset.  Amstar Company, Inc.,  Perf. 14

Singles, Sheets of 50

 

                  

    30p  Mariposa -  Singles  (150,000)

  100p  Waling-waling -  Singles  (150,000)

 

 

Design Coordinator:  Antonio D.A. Claro

Layout Artist:  Alfonso V. Divina

Graphic Artist:  Edgar P. Patricio

 

Design:  Old prints from the Orchid Album of Robert Wagner and Benjamin Samuel Williams, Paxton's Magazine of Botany and Register of Flowering Plants, and the Botanical Magazine illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch. All the orchid prints were done in the 19th century and some are by John Nugent Fitch, a nephew of Walter Hood Fitch.

 

First Day Covers:  Manila

 

 

Philippine Orchids - 19th Century European Old Prints

Mariposa  (Phalaenopsis amabilis).  Plants of this genus have a uniform structure that makes the identification easy for novice botanists.  Like most of the other species in this genus, has a short stem. This is believed to be an adaptation to gain the light requirements needed to grow.  The rooting of P. amabilis is usually unbranched. The only times it would be branched are if the roots are damaged or if it has gotten old in age. The leaves of P. amabilis vary from oblong to elliptic at the base and obtuse, minutely, at the tip or apex and measures at 50 × 10 cm. The moth orchid's flower is showy, membranous, white, the lip, (the unpared petals of an orchid) which is three-lobed, and the callus are a variety of yellow and red depending on the individual plant. It is able to bloom for a long period of time and can grow up to 10 cm in diameter and more.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalaenopsis_amabilis

Waling-Waling  (Vanda sanderiana). This epiphyte grows on branches of tall dipterocarp trees. It is 25 to 100 em. tall with numerous, rather closely arranged long narrow leaves. Inflorescences are stout, erect or ascending to about 12" long, well-spaced or somewhat crowded flowers. The sepals are greenish with purple streaks and irregular spots. Though similar to the petals, the sepals are smaller, rose purple in color and have purple spots on the lower margins near the base. The flowers, variable in dimensions and color are fragrant and long-lived. Found in Davao and considered an endangered specie.

TOPICAL CATEGORIES

 

  • Flowers / Orchids

  • Arts / Prints

 

 

Articles by Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

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Issues of 2003