19 April 2022

Pterospermum acerifolium

I am participating in the April AtoZ Blogging challenge and my theme is Plants featured on Indian Stamps. This is my eight attempt at the AtoZ and the focus is on plants. 

My theme is inspired by an online talk by Daniel L Nikrent of Cornell University, USA held by Maharashtra Vriksha Samvardhini about Parasitic Flowering Plants featured on Stamps

I am not a stamp collector nor a fan of stamps. Hence almost all my posts are purely based on research on the internet. I have tried to cross check the info before posting here. Please do share correct info and links to the same in case of discrepancy. 

India Post has a very strong network reaching deep deep into the interiors of the country and I depended on it for news from home when we were posted in far away places.  In this age of smartphones, Internet, how many of us really write letters - snail mail as they are now called? Despite this , I find that new stamps are being issued and we have stamps on diverse topics including Armed Forces, Films, Personalities, Wildlife, Handlooms, Handicrafts and so on.. It is amazing!

Pterospermum acerifolium or Muchkunda of the Sterculiaceae family is a handsome native tree that is valued for timber and is also grown in parks and on roadsides. It has large stipulate leaves typically peltate and night blooming flowers are fragrant. Here is flower and leaf image from my collection.


The species rightly finds a place on our stamps. India Post released a commemorative stamp on this species in 2009 with denomination of 5 INR. 

Post of India, GODL-India <https://data.gov.in/sites/default/files/Gazette_Notification_OGDL.pdf>, via Wikimedia Commons

Potatoes are an important part of diet across the world. A lot of research must be going on into improving its crop, quality of tubers etc. India Post has issued a stamp on 50 years of potato research in 1985. 

Post of India, GODL-India <https://data.gov.in/sites/default/files/Gazette_Notification_OGDL.pdf>, via Wikimedia Commons

The India Postage Stamps website  has a complete catalogue of stamps. Please click the link to see many many wonderful stamps.

Colnect is a comprehensive portal for Stamp collectors. It gives detailed information about every listed stamp.  Click here for detailed info about Stamps - what is a stamp, types, formats, water marks, perforations and much more.  

We meet tomorrow for yet another beautiful plant and its stamp! You can catch up with my previous posts here

Till then, Take Care and Stay Happy!  

6 comments:

Afshan Shaik said...

I never heard of the first plant...may b i saw on roads...not sure . Aalooo on stamps wah :)

Dropping by from a to z "The Pensive"

Red said...

Wow! What an ambitious topic for AtoZ!
I used to collect stamps in Junior High - while at school in India, ironically. I wonder if there is a study about the popularity of stamp collecting based on geography. We had quite an active stamp club.
I love the variety of plants, and downloaded an app called "PlantSnap" so that I could take pictures of unfamiliar ones and find out what they are.
Thanks for stopping by my blot!

visiting from AtoZ
Doesn't Speak Klingon

Pradeep Nair said...

I didn't know India Post had brought out a stamp on potatoes!
P = Pogono-

Archana said...

@Afshan..do look around. you may see it. Thanks for stopping by!

Archana said...

@Red PlantSnap is a very useful app. Thanks for stopping by!

Archana said...

@Pradeep India Post has amazing stamps on diverse topics. Take a look at the links in my post. Thanks for stopping by 🙏🏻