An interesting issue, having as topic Flora, will be introduced into circulation by Romfilatelia on Thursday, March 06th, this year, under the title Magnolias, consisting of four postage stamps, a set of 4 maxicards, for maximaphilia enthusiasts, a block of 4 stamps enclosed in a philatelic booklet and a First Day Cover.
Magnolias are a species belonging to the Magnoliaceae family. Their name is dedicated to the French botanist Pierre Magnol, former director of the Botanical Garden in Montpellier, who made significant contributions to their classification. These plants have flowers that evolved to encourage pollination by beetles.
The postage stamps of the issue reproduce images of the following species: Magnolia grandiflora(postage stamp with the face value of Lei 4), Magnolia × soulangeana (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 5), Magnolia acuminata (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 9), and Magnolia liliiflora (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 25).
The branched stems of the magnolia bear large, solitary, hermaphroditic flowers having a variable number of white or variously colored petals. The fruits are of different types (follicle, capsule, nut, berry), and the seed is dicotyledonous. Magnolias propagate through seeds and asexually (grafting, cutting) in fertile soils. Pollination is also facilitated by insects (such as bees and butterflies).
Magnolias are ornamental trees with flowers, enhancing gardens and parks with their beauty while evoking emotion and optimism. The species of the Magnolia genus are native to Asia, Central, and North America. It encompass approximately 200 species. Their lifespan can extend up to a century. In China and Japan, magnolia flowers hold symbolic meanings, such as a love for nature or a representation of life’s strength. The green magnolia symbolizes enthusiasm, joy, and good fortune, while the purple magnolia conveys encouragement and well wishes for recovery to the person receiving it. Magnolia is also the official flower of certain states, such as North Korea and the U.S. State of Mississippi, which is known as “The Magnolia State”.
Among the most widely spread species, we find:
Magnolia grandiflora is a species that retains its green leaves year-round. It has a slow growth rate, and its fragrant flowers are white-cream in color. This species is frost-resistant.
Magnolia × soulangeana, the most widely cultivated species, grows up to 5-7 meters and blooms in April. It has large flowers with a diameter of up to 10 cm and easily adapts to any climate.
Magnolia acuminata, also known as the “cucumber tree” due to the shape of its fruits, is highly resistant to cold and stands out for its large, cup-like flowers.
Magnolia liliiflora is a shrub native to China. It blooms early in spring, before the leaf buds open. The flowers are large, in pink-purple shades, darker in the case of the “Nigra” variety, with narrow and long petals, giving them a distinctive elegance.
The philatelic booklet, achieved in a limited run printing of 390 pieces contains the block of 4 perforated stamps of the issue. Each block is numbered from 001 to 390.
Romfilatelia thanks Prof. Paulina Anastasiu Ph.D., Manager of “Dimitrie Brandza” Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest, for the documentary support provided to the development of this postage stamps issue.
