2019 First-Class Forever Stamp,Cactus Flower: Parodia scopa

# 5359 - 2019 First-Class Forever Stamp - Cactus Flower: Parodia scopa

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US #5359
2019 Parodia Scopa – Cactus Flowers

  • Pictures a silver ball cactus in bloom
  • Part of the set of 10 stamps celebrating the beauty of cactus flowers


Stamp Category: 
Definitive
Set:  Cactus Flowers
Value:  55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  February 15, 2019
First Day City:  Mesa, Arizona
Quantity Issued:  400,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Double-sided booklet of 20
Tagging:  Phosphor tagged paper, block tag

Why the stamp was issued:  To showcase the many colors, shapes, and sizes of flowers different cactus species produce.

About the stamp design:  Pictures an existing photograph by John P. Schaefer of a silver ball cactus (Parodia scopa)­ in bloom. 

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Mesa, Arizona, at the AmeriStamp Expo/ARIPEX stamp show.  Arizona is home to many cactus species.

About the Cactus Flowers set:  Made up of 10 stamp designs, all picturing existing photographs by John P. Schaefer of different cacti species in bloom.  The species pictured include:  Opuntia engelmannii (Engelmann’s prickly pear cactus), Rebutia minuscula (fire crown cactus), Echinocereus dasyacanthus (Texas rainbow cactus), Echinocereus poselgeri (Dahlia cactus),  Echinocereus coccineus (Scarlet hedgehog cactus), Pelecyphora aselliformis (hatchet cactus), Parodia microsperma (golden Tom Thumb cactus), Echinocactus horizonthalonius (eagle’s claw cactus), Thelocactus heterochromus (glory of Texas cactus), and Parodia scopa (silver ball cactus).

History the stamp represents:  Flowering cacti come in all shapes and sizes.  Some even change the way they grow as they get older.  For example, the silver ball cactus (Parodia scopa) begins life as a round, ball-shaped plant before growing upward into a column as years pass.  The cactus’s bright yellow flowers also change.  When the silver ball cactus is young, it may only produce one flower, but in later years it can grow three or more.

Because growing cacti, especially those in flower, became so popular in the 21st century, many stores began selling different varieties.  However, cacti sold somewhere other than a greenhouse or nursery can be misleading to the buyer.  Some plants can be labeled as one species when they are actually another.  Stores also like to increase the plants’ appeal by attaching colorful fake flowers to the tops.  These flowers are called strawflowers and can last many months when dried.  Some people believe them to be real because they may open or close depending on the moisture in the air.  When looked at closely, however, it is easy to spot the glue or pins holding the flowers to the cactus.

It can be difficult to get cacti to bloom without knowing how to properly care for them.  And even then, the flowers last only a day or two.  That is part of what makes cactus flowers so beautiful and sought-after.

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US #5359
2019 Parodia Scopa – Cactus Flowers

  • Pictures a silver ball cactus in bloom
  • Part of the set of 10 stamps celebrating the beauty of cactus flowers


Stamp Category: 
Definitive
Set:  Cactus Flowers
Value:  55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  February 15, 2019
First Day City:  Mesa, Arizona
Quantity Issued:  400,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Double-sided booklet of 20
Tagging:  Phosphor tagged paper, block tag

Why the stamp was issued:  To showcase the many colors, shapes, and sizes of flowers different cactus species produce.

About the stamp design:  Pictures an existing photograph by John P. Schaefer of a silver ball cactus (Parodia scopa)­ in bloom. 

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Mesa, Arizona, at the AmeriStamp Expo/ARIPEX stamp show.  Arizona is home to many cactus species.

About the Cactus Flowers set:  Made up of 10 stamp designs, all picturing existing photographs by John P. Schaefer of different cacti species in bloom.  The species pictured include:  Opuntia engelmannii (Engelmann’s prickly pear cactus), Rebutia minuscula (fire crown cactus), Echinocereus dasyacanthus (Texas rainbow cactus), Echinocereus poselgeri (Dahlia cactus),  Echinocereus coccineus (Scarlet hedgehog cactus), Pelecyphora aselliformis (hatchet cactus), Parodia microsperma (golden Tom Thumb cactus), Echinocactus horizonthalonius (eagle’s claw cactus), Thelocactus heterochromus (glory of Texas cactus), and Parodia scopa (silver ball cactus).

History the stamp represents:  Flowering cacti come in all shapes and sizes.  Some even change the way they grow as they get older.  For example, the silver ball cactus (Parodia scopa) begins life as a round, ball-shaped plant before growing upward into a column as years pass.  The cactus’s bright yellow flowers also change.  When the silver ball cactus is young, it may only produce one flower, but in later years it can grow three or more.

Because growing cacti, especially those in flower, became so popular in the 21st century, many stores began selling different varieties.  However, cacti sold somewhere other than a greenhouse or nursery can be misleading to the buyer.  Some plants can be labeled as one species when they are actually another.  Stores also like to increase the plants’ appeal by attaching colorful fake flowers to the tops.  These flowers are called strawflowers and can last many months when dried.  Some people believe them to be real because they may open or close depending on the moisture in the air.  When looked at closely, however, it is easy to spot the glue or pins holding the flowers to the cactus.

It can be difficult to get cacti to bloom without knowing how to properly care for them.  And even then, the flowers last only a day or two.  That is part of what makes cactus flowers so beautiful and sought-after.