Complete series of 2012-2014 Berries Stamps (I-IV). Formosa(Taiwan), Rep of China.
First day of 1st issued:Jan 12,2012.
This set features Actinidia callosa, Synsepalum dulcificum, Solanum americanum and Solanum verbascifolium. The designs follow:
1. Actinidia callosa (NT$3.50): This climbing shrub is found on mountain slopes in low to middle elevations. It has elliptical to ovate leaves with dentate margins. Its flowers are white. Its round berries, about three centimeters in diameter, are covered with lenticels and fuzzy mustard-colored hair. The berries are edible.
2. Synsepalum dulcificum (NT$5.00): This tropical evergreen shrub is commonly known as miracle fruit. In Taiwan , the species is found only in cultivation. It has oblanceolate to obovate leaves with undulate margins and small white flowers. Its oval berries are two to three centimeters long and one centimeter in diameter. Green when they first appear, the berries turn bright red when mature. The berries are edible.
3. Solanum americanum (NT$12.00): Commonly known as American nightshade, this native is found in plains and hills at low to middle elevations. This herbaceous plant can be annual or perennial. It has ovate leaves with entire or dentate margins and white or lavender flowers. Its round berries are green at first and turn shiny dark purple when they mature. The fruit are edible.
4. Solanum verbascifolium (NT$25.00): This evergreen shrub can be found on plains, on mountain slopes at low elevations, and on islands off of Taiwan proper. The plant is densely covered with mustard colored star-shaped fuzz. Its leaves range from ovate, to lanceolate, to elliptical, and it has white flowers. Its round berries, which are green at first and turn orange yellow when mature, are borne in clusters at the tips of its branches. The berries are inedible.
First day of 2nd issued:Jan 17,2013.
This set features Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Ardisia squamulosa, Hylocereus undatus, and Mahonia japonica.
The designs follow:
1.Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (NT$2.5): Also known as downy rose myrtle, it is found on the slopes of foothills and low-elevation mountains, and alongside mountain roads in Ilan, Taipei, Taitung and Green Island. This evergreen shrub has leathery leaves that are ovate or obovate with smooth margins. The flowers are scarlet. The berries are urceolate and enclosed within a persistent calyx. When ripe, they are red or dark purple, with red edible flesh.
2. Ardisia squamulosa (NT$7): Found throughout Taiwan, this evergreen shrub or small tree is widely used as a hedge or ornamental plant. It has oblanceolate or obovate leaves with smooth margins. Its corolla is light pink to white. When ripe, its oblate berries are red to dark purple and sweetly tart.
3. Hylocereus undatus (NT$10): These berries, also known as dragon fruit, are cultivated throughout Taiwan. This fleshy epiphytic climbing perennial has a dark green stem, each node of which has climbing roots to help it climb higher. The leaves degenerate into small thorns, and its rhizome becomes a thick, fat water-laden stem. The plant has large sweet-scented trumpet-shaped white flowers, and ellipsoid, large and edible berries.
4. Mahonia japonica (NT$32): Also known as leatherleaf Mahonia, this small evergreen bush is spread throughout northern Taiwan at elevations of 500-1000 meters. Its small leaves, either elliptical or ovate-lanceolate, are leathery with sharp pointed tips and slightly curled edges. It has yellow flowers and ovoid berries that are dark purple when ripe. The berries can be eaten fresh or turned into juice. The plant is famous for its medicinal uses.
First day of 3rd issued:April 17,2013.
This set features Ribes formosanum, Garcinia subelliptica, coffea arabica, and Smilax ocreata.
The designs follow:
1.Ribes formosanum (NT$1): The plant is also known as Formosan gooseberry or Formosan currant. Found at altitudes of 3,000-3,900 meters on Mt. Qilai , Mt. Xue , and Mt. Hehuan , it is most often seen under stands of fir near Mt. Xue ’s eastern summit. A deciduous bush, its leaves are broad and round. Its flowers are white with pale green sepals. The berries are oval or spherical and look like little lanterns. When ripe, they are red and edible, with a sweet and tart taste.
2.Garcinia subelliptica (NT$15): Also known as fukugi mangosteen, it is planted throughout Taiwan and native to the southern coast and Green Island . A small to medium evergreen tree, it takes its Chinese name (fortune tree) from its leaves, which resemble ancient Japanese coins in their color and shape. The plant’s leathery leaves are elliptical in shape. The species is dioecious, and female plants flower in August and September. The berries turn orange-yellow when ripe, and they are not edible.
3.Coffea arabica (NT$17): Its range includes Hualien’s Wuhe, Dongshi Forest Station, Huisun Forest Station, Tainan’s Dongshan, Yunlin’s Gukeng, Chiayi’s Mt. Ali, Hsinchu, and Miaoli. The species is an evergreen shrub or small tree grown in half shade. Its leathery leaves are long and elliptical. It has a white corolla, which smells like jasmine flowers. Its berries are round or oval and turn red when ripe. Each berry contains one to two coffee beans, which are ground up to make coffee.
4.Smilax ocreata (NT$20): This plant is found in forests, shrubby areas, the shady sides of mountain valleys, and humid slopes at altitudes of around 1,500 meters. A vine-like shrub, it has ovate to elliptical leaves. It features axillary umbels, each consisting of 10 to 30 short flower stalks. Its berries are round and yellowish green when they first appear. When ripe, they turn dark red and are edible.
First day of 4th issued:March 27,2014.
This set features Lycium chinense, Dianella ensifolia, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata var. hancei, and Diplocylos palmatus.
The designs follow:
1. Lycium chinense (NT$5): This small deciduous shrub can be found on low-elevation slopes or roadsides in mountainous areas of Hsinchu, Taichung, Taitung, and Penghu, and even as far as Orchid Island. Its small branches have thorny tips. It has elongated oval leaves and lavender flowers. Its berries are ovate and turn red when ripe. The plant is edible & famous for its medicinal uses.
2. Dianella ensifolia (NT$5): This perennial plant can be found on dry mountain cliffs or roadsides in low-elevation mountainous areas throughout Taiwan and occasionally in coastal areas. Its leaves are leathery and entire. Its flowers are mauve or white. Its berries are nearly spherical and turn mauve when ripe. They are not edible.
3. Ampelopsis brevipedunculata var. hancei (NT$15): It can be found climbing on shrubs on the plains and in mountainous areas throughout Taiwan. This perennial vine has sharp serrated leaves that are round or ovate with cordate leaf bases. Its flowers are chartreuse. Its berries are spherical with little speckles. The berries turn turquoise when ripe. They are not edible.
4. Diplocylos palmatus (NT$34): Found scattered in low-elevation mountainous areas throughout Taiwan, this annual vine produces palmate leaves and small yellow flowers. Its berries are spherical. The berries turn red with white stripes when ripe. They are not edible.
The photo is only an example.
Mint & never hinged(mnh).
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