Definitive Postage Stamp - June 30, 2008


With the launching of the new government (Feb. 25, 2008), Korea Post which was part of the Ministry of Information and Communication is now under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. To mark this change, the current 250 KRW stamp featuring a brown hawk owl will be replaced by one featuring a Euryale ferox Salisb. This new stamp is produced as a self-adhesive stamp, to facilitate the convenience of stamp users.

The beautiful, purple Euryale ferox Salisb. is a lonely plant being the only species and genus that exists in the entire world. When the little tiny bud sprouts, large leaves spring up from its roots. Then, a flower stalk comes forth, from where a mysterious, purple colored flower blossoms. There are thorns all over the plant except on its petals. The leaves grow up to reach 20 cm to 2m, with their rumpled surface showing a lustrous hue. Even though Euryale ferox Salisb. is a yearly plant, there are times when they can’t be seen every year due to their “alternate year bearing.” Its flower that blossoms during July and August opens up in the daytime but closes down at night, making its admirers miss them even more. Being a plant that grows naturally only in the East Asian region, it is found in old reservoirs or ponds in Korea. Protected as an endangered wild plant, it is regarded as a rare plant all across the world.