Spring Flowers of Croatia

The Croatian Post Inc. has issued a set of three stamps feature Spring flower species as part of their flora series 2012 on March 15, 2012. The depicted species are  Snowdrop ( galanthus nivalis), Primrose ( Primula vulgaris),  and Spring crocus ( Crocus Vernes).

Snowdrop ( Galanthus nivalis)

Galanthus nivalis or Snowdrop is widely grown in gardens, particularly in northern Europe, and is widely naturalized in woodlands in the regions where it is grown. It is, however, native to a large area of Europe, from Spain in the west, eastwards to the Ukraine.

Snowdrops or Galanthus nivalis grows to around 7–15 cm tall, flowering between January and April in the northern temperate zone (January–May in the wild).  They are perennial, herbaceous plants which grow from bulbs.

Spring Flower of Estonia.

Estonia Post issued the souvenir sheet has comprised of four stamps featured the popular spring flowers that grown in Estonian gardens, such as : the Tulip, the Purple hellebore, the Poet’s Narcissus, Crocuses on March 2003.

The tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about one hundred species of bulbous spring flowers from the Lily family. The tulip is renewed every spring and it grows many daughter bulbs. The tulip, particularly its bulbs, contains a potent allergen.In Estonia the tulip has been known since the end of the 18th century.

The purple hellebore (Helloborus purpurascens) is one species of the hellebore (Helleborus), which blossoms in our gardens in March and April. The hellebore have twenty species, two species .The hellebores contain toxic glycosides and cardiac stimulants are made from the roots of some hellebores.

The poet’s narcissus (Narcissus poëticus), which is very common in Estonian gardens. Narcissuses contain poisonous alkaloids, and several species also contain ethereal oils. The flowers are grown in Estonia since the early 18th century and about 500 varieties are known today.

Crocuses, of which there are about 80 species, mostly grow to about 10-15 centimetres in height. Stigmas of a purple-flowered crocus, Crocus sativus, are collected and dried as saffron. Mainly varieties and hybrids of the spring crocus (Crocus vernus) are grown in Estonia.