1999 33c Tropical Flowers: Bird of Paradise

U.S. #3310
33¢ Bird of Paradise
Tropical Flowers

Issue Date: May 1, 1999
City: Honolulu, HI
Quantity: 1,500,000,000
Printed By: Sennett Security Products
Printing Method: Photogravure
Perforations: Serpentine die cut 10.9
Color: Multicolored

Stamps depicting flowers are some of the most popular among collectors and non-collectors alike. The 1999 “Tropical Flowers” stamps are the first illustrated by botanical artist Steve Buchanan. Created as a single piece of art, the stamps form a continuous design.

The bird of paradise flower is a member of the banana family native to South Africa. The plant bears a unique bud that resembles a brightly colored bird in flight. Its flowers are orange and blue, with elongated green and red leaves, and its seeds are poisonous if eaten. The flower also grows in California, Florida, and Hawaii.

The royal poinciana has brightly colored flowers that grow in immense clusters. Each flower on the 40-foot-high tree has five red petals, with one streaked yellow. Also known as the “flame tree,” the royal poinciana grows in Hawaii, Madagascar, and Bermuda. Native to Asia, the hibiscus is Hawaii’s state flower, and the Chinese hibiscus is one of several varieties. The flower of the Chinese hibiscus can vary in color, but is usually a single blossom of red, white, or pink.

The gloriosa lily has slender, vinelike petals that are scarlet and gold. An ornamental plant native to Africa and Asia, it must be grown in greenhouses during winter months in the United States.