INDIGENOUS FOREST TREES

Ciskei, Keiskammahoek · 1984-01-06

Official

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front

Cachet: The cachet is a soft watercolour landscape showing a cluster of indigenous trees against a pale blue sky, with layered greens and browns building depth from the foreground grasses through to the trees in the middle distance. The largest tree stands slightly left of centre, its trunk pale and its canopy rendered in loose, textured brushstrokes. Smaller trees and scrub fill in around it, giving the scene a naturalistic, unposed feel rather than a formal botanical study. Below the illustration the cover reads "Indigenous Trees 2" in plain black type, alongside a small silhouette of a bird.

Info card

INDIGENOUS FOREST TREES Second set of the series 10c stamp Rhus chirindensis — Intlolokotshane Enkulu — Red Currant The red currant is a member of the same family as the marula, wild plum, mango and cashew nut. The tree blooms from September till January, and male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. The heavy, red wood takes a fine polish, and is used for furniture, pipes and walking-sticks. Formerly it was used mainly in wagon-building and for yokes. 20c stamp Phoenix reclinata — iSundu — Wild Date Palm The graceful wild date palm with its feathery leaves occurs abundantly along coastal rivers. The stems may reach a height of 10 m and suckers from the base to form large clumps. Male and female flowers occur on different trees. The edible fruits are about 1,5 cm long and orange-red when mature. In earlier days the seeds were used as a substitute for coffee and the tree was known as "coffee palm". In some areas the sap is tapped for toddy. 25c stamp Ptaeroxylon obliquum — Umthathi — Sneezewood This small, semi-deciduous tree bears numerous small, pale yellow, unisexual flowers, male and female being borne on separate trees. The flat fruit has a reddish-brown colour. The hard, brown wood contains an aromatic resin. It is very popular as fencing-poles but is also used in furniture-making and as railway sleepers. The sawdust and small chips of wood are used as a moth-repellent in clothing. The pungent dust causes sneezing, giving rise to the common name, and is used as snuff and as medicine for various diseases. 40c stamp Apodytes dimidiata subsp. dimidiata — Umdakane — White Pear This small evergreen tree, which under favourable conditions attains a height of 20 m, is widespread and has a characteristic white or pale green trunk. It bears numerous small, white, scented flowers at the ends of the branches. The small black fruits have a bright red appendage, which contains an indelible blue colouring-matter. The light-coloured wood is suitable for turning on a lathe. Formerly it was used especially for the felloes of wagon wheels. The white pear is a graceful shade-tree in the garden and can be used as a hedge-plant in colder areas. Text compiled with the kind co-operation of the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria Botanic Gardens.

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 6 January 1984 in Keiskammahoek. The four stamps, illustrated by Dick Findlay, depict the Red Currant, Wild Date Palm, Sneezewood and White Pear, forming the second set in Ciskei's Indigenous Trees series. This was the second in a series highlighting trees native to the region, following an earlier first set. The Sneezewood's common name comes directly from its pungent sawdust, which was traditionally used as snuff and as a home remedy for various ailments, in addition to its practical use in fencing and furniture making.

Theme: Flora

Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.