Beauty of Longleaf Pine Forest Highlights New Postage Stamps; Fourth in Nature of America Stamp Series

4/26/2002

From: Cathy Yarosky of the United States Postal Service, 202-268-2126, E-Mail: cyarosky@email.usps.gov or Joseph Breckinridge, 770-454-0630 Web: http://www.usps.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 26 -- The beauty and majesty of America's longleaf pine forests are featured on new commemorative postage stamps that were issued by the United States Postal Service today.

The public was invited to the first day of issue ceremony which was held at the Tall Timbers Research Station in Tallahassee, Fla. The new stamps are available in Tallahassee today, and at post offices across the country beginning tomorrow.

The Longleaf Pine Forest stamps are available on a pane featuring 10 designs that together comprise a natural landscape scene. It is the fourth in an educational series designed to promote appreciation of North America's major plant and animal communities.

"The Longleaf Pine Forest is a truly unique ecosystem. It is made up of abundantly diverse plant and animal life," said Robert F. Rider, a member of the presidentially appointed Postal Service Board of Governors, who dedicated the stamp. "We are honored to highlight the wonders of nature in this pane of stamps."

Joining Rider was Lane Green, Executive Director of Tall Timbers Research Station; William A. Tyler, Manager, North Jacksonville Station, USPS; Rhett Johnson, Director, Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Auburn University; R. Todd Engstrom, Vertebrate Ecologist, Tall Timbers Research Station and Nathan W. Logeson, Manager, Post Office Operations, North Florida District, USPS.

Previous issuances in the Nature of America series were Sonoran Desert (1999), Pacific Coast Rain Forest (2000) and Great Plains Prairie (2001).

The Longleaf Pine Forest stamps illustrate the diversity of species found in the longleaf pine forest. Artist John D. Dawson portrayed 31 animal and plant species in his beautiful painting. Although the scene itself is imaginary, all species represented are appropriate and were recommended by scientists. A description of the longleaf pine forest and a numbered key to the artwork appear on the back of the stamp pane, along with a corresponding list of common and scientific names for 27 selected species.

The following explanatory text (along with a key to the artwork and a corresponding list of species) appears on the back of the stamp pane: Although greatly reduced in size, the longleaf pine forest still occupies parts of its natural range in the coastal plains from southeastern Virginia to eastern Texas. Characterized by the longleaf pine, this unique ecosystem includes many plant communities that vary with soil type, moisture, and frequency of fire. Before European settlement, fires burned unchecked and the longleaf pine evolved with adaptations to survive fire. Seedlings need fire-cleared ground to become established. They resemble clumps of grass and long needles that protect the buds. Their long taproots store food, allowing the young trees to shoot upward, thus reducing the exposure of the growing tips to fire. Mature trees have thick, protective bark.

This "forest built by fire" still supports divers species, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Programs are underway to preserve remaining stands of longleaf and restore them where they have been replaced by other trees.

Following are the 27 species identified on the back of the stamp pane. 1. Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) 2. Broadhead Skink (Eumeces laticeps) 3. Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor) 4. Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) 5. Rosebud Orchid (Cleistes divaricata) 6. Pipewort (Eriocaulon sp.) 7. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) 8. Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava) 9. Grass-pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus) 10. Northern Bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) 11. Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) 12. Yellow-sided Skimmer (Libellula flavida) 13. Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornate) 14. Toothache Grass (Ctenium aromaticum) 15. Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 16. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) 17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 18. Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) 19. Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) 20. Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus) 21. Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris) 22. Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis) 23. Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) 24. Blind Click Beetle (Alaus myops) 25. Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) 26. Pine Woods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis) 27. Savannah Meadow Beauty (Rhexia alifanus). Lack of space precluded the naming of four species that appear in the artwork: crane fly (Tipula sp.), wiregrass (Aristida stricta), oak toad (Bufo quercicus) and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum).

To see the Longleaf Pine Forest stamps, and other 2002 issues, go to the Stamp Release Schedule located in the Collector's Corner of the Postal Store at http://www.usps.com/shop. Images of many past and future stamp issues can be found in the Stamp Issues section of the Collector's Corner.

All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items are available online at the Postal Store.

Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.