# 5351 - 2019 First-Class Forever Stamp - Cactus Flower: Rebutia minuscula
US #5351
2019 Rebutia Minuscula – Cactus Flowers
- Pictures fire crown 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 fire crown cactus (Rebutia minuscula) 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: When most people think of cacti, they picture a hot, sunny desert with little water or shade. But there are actually some species of cactus that live in more hospitable regions. One of these is the fire crown cactus (Rebutia minuscula).
Like others in the genus Rebutia, the fire crown cactus is native to the high altitudes of the Andes mountains between Bolivia and Argentina. They are small cacti that form in clusters of two- to three-inch-round plants. Each has 16-20 ribs with small bumps. The fire crown cactus produces bright red flowers in late spring. These bloom from the base of the plant and create the illusions of a beautiful “crown” around the cactus. The flowers are quite large in relation to the cactus, making them really stand out. This species also rapidly reproduces. As time passes, more plants cluster together. This makes them appear even more impressive when the cacti flower.
One of the best parts of Rebutia cacti is they can easily be grown indoors. They stay small, require less light than regular desert cacti, and can tolerate cooler temperatures. This means many more people can enjoy keeping cacti in their homes and all the beauty and enjoyment they bring.
US #5351
2019 Rebutia Minuscula – Cactus Flowers
- Pictures fire crown 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 fire crown cactus (Rebutia minuscula) 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: When most people think of cacti, they picture a hot, sunny desert with little water or shade. But there are actually some species of cactus that live in more hospitable regions. One of these is the fire crown cactus (Rebutia minuscula).
Like others in the genus Rebutia, the fire crown cactus is native to the high altitudes of the Andes mountains between Bolivia and Argentina. They are small cacti that form in clusters of two- to three-inch-round plants. Each has 16-20 ribs with small bumps. The fire crown cactus produces bright red flowers in late spring. These bloom from the base of the plant and create the illusions of a beautiful “crown” around the cactus. The flowers are quite large in relation to the cactus, making them really stand out. This species also rapidly reproduces. As time passes, more plants cluster together. This makes them appear even more impressive when the cacti flower.
One of the best parts of Rebutia cacti is they can easily be grown indoors. They stay small, require less light than regular desert cacti, and can tolerate cooler temperatures. This means many more people can enjoy keeping cacti in their homes and all the beauty and enjoyment they bring.