Orchids of Malaysia

A first day cover of the State definitives - orchids issued on December 4 , 2018.

The six species featured are the : 

Bulbophyllum Orchid ( 5sen stamp)

Bulbophyllum is a genus of mostly epiphyticand lithophytic orchids in the familyOrchidaceae. It is the largest genus in the orchid family and one of the largest genera of flowering plants with more than 2,000 species, exceeded in number only by Astragalus. These orchids are found in diverse habitats throughout most of the warmer parts of the world including Africa, southern Asia, Latin America, the West Indies, and various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Helmet Orchid (10 sen)

Corybas, commonly known as helmet orchids, is a genus of about 120 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Helmet orchids are small, perennial, deciduous herbs and are nearly always terrestrial. They have a single leaf at their base and a single flower on a short stalk, the flower dominated by its large dorsalsepal and labellum. Species of Corybas are found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, southern China, many Pacific islands and a few sub-Antarctic islands.

Vanilla Orchid (20 sen)

Vanilla, the vanilla orchids, forms a flowering plant genus of about 110 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The most widely known member is the flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia), native to Mexico, from which commercial vanillaflavoring is derived. It is the only orchid widely used for industrial purposes in flavoring such products as foods, beverages and cosmetics, and is recognized as the most popular aroma and flavor.

Almost-Three Lobbed Phalus (30 sen)

Phaius, commonly known as swamp orchids is a genus of forty five species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. They are evergreen, terrestrial herbs which form clumps with crowded, sometimes stem-like pseudobulbs, large, pleated leaves and relatively large, often colourful flowers. Species in this genus are found in the tropical parts of Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, and various islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Large Leaf Dendrobium (40 sen) 

Dendronium is a genus of mostly epiphytic and lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It is a very large genus, containing more than 1,800 species that are found in diverse habitats throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Vietnam and many of the islands of the Pacific. Orchids in this genus have roots that creep over the surface of trees or rocks, rarely having their roots in soil. Up to six leaves develop in a tuft at the tip of a shoot and from one to a large number of flowers are arranged along an unbranched flowering stem.

Jewel Orchid (50 sen)

Lidisia is a genus of orchids that contains just one species, Ludisia discolor, commonly referred to as jewel orchid. They are native to southern China, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Burma, and often cultivated. They are terrestrial orchids that in their natural setting would be found growing on the forest floor. They are known for their foliage, which is often velvety deep maroon with red veins that run parallel to the centre of the leaf.

The wild orchids stamp series was produced in two versions of the Miniature Sheets (MS) which are the perforated and imperforated version with 14 designs which features the head of states in Malaysia.

Thanks honeysha for this wonderful cover - I love orchids and the cover looks like a beautiful garden :)