Romfilatelia continues the series of topics dedicated to Flora, through the postage stamps issue Orchids, which consists of four items. Graceful shapes and beautiful colours, exotic presences – these associations appear when you think of orchids. The species presented in this philatelic issue can be found on the Romanian territory.
The first stamp shows Neotinea Ustulata. It is a European terrestrial orchid native to mountains in central and southern Europe, growing at up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) elevation. The flowers are strongly honey or vanilla scented. It prefers meadows, grasslands, forest edges, growing on humid or dry depleted soils.
The second stamp features Cephalanthera rubra. It occurs mostly in beech and oak forests. The height of this orchid-species is usually 30-50 cm and there are 3-10 reddish-purple flowers in its loose cluster flower. The flowers are honey or vanilla scented. This flower species needs about 6 years form germination to producing its first leafy shoot above ground. Flowering does not occur until the plant is 10 years of age.
The third item represents Anacamptis pyramidalis. The name 'pyramidal' comes from the conical shape of the young infloresence of this plant. Once the flower is fully developed it becomes more cylindrical or egg-shaped. It flowers in May and it is usually found in grasslands, wood margins or bright woods, on calcareous substrates, up to 1,800 m altitude.
The fourth stamp shows Nigritella miniata. Due to its remarkable vanilla fragrance, this flower is also known as the European Vanilla Orchids or simply, the Vanilla Orchids. It is a small, delicate plant, of approximately 10-15 cm. It grows in full sun, scattered on the alpine meadows. It flowers at the beginning of June.
Check out other bright flower stamps.
