Indian Orchids 1991
Complete Set of 6 nos of special postage stamps on the Orchids of India :
Issued by India
Issued on Oct 12, 1991
Description of Design : The special postage stamps have been designed by Shri O.T. Ravindran. The First Day Cover depicts Phais Tankervilliae which is a robust land orchid found in the North East India. Its flowering time is from April to July. The cancellation is designed by Ms. Nenu Gupta and depicts Renanthera imschootiana a rare and attractive orchid found in Nagaland and Manipur. Flowering term is from May to July. The photographs of these two orchids have been taken by S/Shri Sapu Changkiya, Yogendra Kumar and P. B. Gurung of North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong and made available to us courtesy Shri K. Asungba Sangtam.
Type : Stamps, Postal Used
Colour : Multi Colour
Denomination : 100, 250, 300, 400, 500 & 650 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Imported Un W/M Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper
Number Printed : 10,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 35
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printed : India Security Press
About :
- Blessed with such diverse geographical conditions, India could boast of a wide variety of orchids, from the gorgeous to the tiny ‘botanicals’. When the craze for tropical orchids developed in the West, people looked on India as a treasure house of exotic orchids. Many Indian species were collected, and some of them, with the discovery of scientific methods of cultivation and propagation through seeds and meristem, became parents of numerous hybrids of outstanding beauty.
- In selecting the orchids for the series of stamps, care has been taken to give representation to the various habitats in the country. Whether the flowers are large or small, plain or perfumed, the plants epiphytic or terrestrial, easy of cultivation or whimsical, an orchid is an orchid. The species and the hybrids bloom to cast a charm on the orchid fancier and also the common man who is one way or other comes to know of these exquisite creations of nature sooner or later.
- Orchids represented on the stamps are:
1. Cymbidium aloifolium: An epiphytic hardy orchid found wild at lower elevations in cultivation all over India. Flowering time: May to June.2. Paphiopedilum venustum: A lady-slipper orchid found in Sikkim and Meghalaya facing extinction due to excessive collection. Flowering time: January to March.3. Aerides crispum: An epiphytic orchid endemic to the Western Ghats having fragrant flowers. Flowering time: May to June.
4. Cymbidium bicolour: An epiphytic orchid of the Western Ghats. Also found on the plains of Southern India. Flowering time: March to May.
5. Vanda spathulata: The Golden Vanda of South India and also Sri Lanka. Grows on shrubs, small trees and rocks. Flowering time: September to December.
6. Cymbidium devonianum: Long leaved orchid with pendulous, many flowered flower spikes. The orchid flowers in the summer and is found growing in Sikkim and the Khasia Hills.
- Text : Courtesy Sh. O.T. Ravindran.
