Description
Compared to their exotic relatives, native orchid species often seem rather inconspicuous. They grow in places that are often out of sight.
The third and penultimate set in this four-year series features Neottia nidus-avis, Cephalanthera rubra, Platanthera bifolia and Ophrys holosericea. As with all the motifs, the plants were photographed by the internationally recognised and award-winning garden photographer Marianne Majerus.
While the bird’s-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), the red helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra), and the white woodland hyacinth (Platanthera bifolia) are most likely to be found in woodlands, the bumblebee orchid (Ophrys holosericea) is one of the species that grow on dry grassland. Orchids grow on very low-nutrient soils. Their presence indicates biologically intact habitats, which are often also used by other rare animal and plant species.
All orchid species in Luxembourg are protected, meaning they cannot be picked. Currently, the bird’s nest orchid and the white woodland hyacinth are not threatened with extinction, while the bumblebee orchid is considered ‘potentially endangered’. The red helleborine, on the other hand, is classified as ‘endangered’.
Price of the series: 6,85 €
Photographs: Marianne Majerus (LU)
Layout: Ierace Dechmann + Partners (LU)
Printing: Digital printing, bpost Stamps Printing, Malines (BE)
Format :
30 x 40 mm, 10 stamps per sheet with decorated borders
Print run:
1,00 + 0,10 € 100.000 stamps • 1,40 + 0,15 € 100.000 stamps 1,75 + 0,15 € 75.000 stamps • 2,00 + 0,30 € 75.000 stamps