Taiwan is located in the subtropical areas. Its varied topography and diversified climates comprising that of the tropical, temperate and frigid zones make for a glorious abundance of beautiful flowers which decorate the earth with flourishing energies. Since 1993 the Directorate has issued several sets of stamps with flowers as subject matter, which have been well received both in Taiwan and abroad. Now this Directorate has chosen Gaillardia pulchella var. picta (blanket flower), Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Kalanchoe) and Portulaca oleracea var. granatus ("Wildfire" Portulaca) as theme for a new set of three stamps with face values of NT$5.00, NT$12.00 and NT$ l 9.00 respectively. The stamps were planned by Mr. Cheng Yuan-chun of the Department of Botany at the Taiwan Provincial Museum. The flowers of herbaceous plants, which are often very colorful, include annuals, biennials and perennials. They are mostly qrown in pots, flower beds, screens or in strips along roads.These flowers are often used in flower arrangements, bouquets, corsages, flower baskets and wreaths.