Following the Wild Orchids of Taiwan postage stamps issued on November 16, 2017 and January 26, 2018, Chunghwa Post is offering a further set of four stamps featuring the Habenaria dentata, Neottia meifongensis, Dendrobium chryseum and Dendrobium linawianum, to be issued on February 27, 2018. The stamps are described below:
1.Habenaria dentata (NT$16): This medium-sized orchid grows on the ground. It has white flowers of 2.5 to 3 cm across. It flowers from summer to early autumn and is common on sunlit grassland and bushland at mid-altitudes in Taiwan.
2.Neottia meifongensis (NT$22): This little orchid grows on the ground. The labellum is yellowish-green and semi-transparent. The flowers measure 1.2 to 1.8 cm across. It flowers in summer and is common at high-altitudes in central Taiwan.
3.Dendrobium chryseum (NT$23): This large, parasitic orchid has golden or almost orange flowers that are 4 cm across. It flowers from spring until mid-summer and is common at mid to high-altitudes in Taiwan.
4.Dendrobium linawianum (NT$43): This medium-sized orchid is parasitic. The flowers are off-white in the center and slightly purple on the edges. Two purple spots adorn the base of the labellum. It measures 5 cm across and flowers in spring. It is found in mid to low-altitudes in northern Taiwan.
These stamps are planned by Associate Researcher Shih-wen Chung of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, painted by ecology painter Mr. Chi-jen Lai and printed by China Color Printing Co., Ltd. in color offset. By-issues including a first-day cover, folders with and without crystal mounts, and a loose-leaf album page will be released along with the stamps and will go on sale on February 23, 2018. A pre-canceled FDC with a NT$16-denominated stamp or a full set of stamps will go on sale on February 27, 2018, the stamps’ date of issuance.