US #5802t
2023 Oak Leaf Surface – Life Magnified
- Pictures a microscopic view of the surface of an oak leaf
- Part of the Life Magnified set of 20 stamps
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Life Magnified
Value: 66¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 10, 2023
First Day City... more
US #5802t
2023 Oak Leaf Surface – Life Magnified
- Pictures a microscopic view of the surface of an oak leaf
- Part of the Life Magnified set of 20 stamps
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Life Magnified
Value: 66¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 10, 2023
First Day City: Cleveland, Ohio
Quantity Issued: 32,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Flexographic
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To show an up-close view of the surface of an oak leaf we would never be able to see with the naked eye.
About the stamp design: Pictures a photograph taken with special techniques using a microscope. Design also includes the name of the specimen.
First Day City: First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Cleveland, Ohio, at The Great American Stamp Show.
About the Life Magnified Set: These 20 stamps were issued to showcase life undetectable by the human eye alone. All 20 stamps picture photographs taken using special techniques and the aid of a microscope. The set celebrates the beauty and complexity of microscopic organisms and parts of organisms, the study of which have had various impacts on humans.
History the stamp represents: Leaves are a plant’s main structure for photosynthesis, the process by which it converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into energy. This makes them perhaps the most important part of a plant since, without photosynthesis, the plant would die.
They may seem simple, but the microscopic structures of leaves are more complex than most people realize. Most are wide, flat, and thin, exposing the maximum surface area to the sun. This is beneficial to the chloroplasts that carry out photosynthesis. The surface of the thin leaf is protected by a cuticle, an often waxy, waterproof layer. It is also equipped with stomata, which are openings that allow carbon dioxide in, expel oxygen, and control how much water vapor is allowed into the leaf cells. A single square centimeter of a leaf can contain anywhere from 1,000 to 100,000 stomata.
While many leaves are thin and flat, there are other plants that have adapted to their environments by producing leaves with more unusual shapes and sizes. For example, conifer trees are equipped with needles that stand up to colder temperatures. Succulents, on the other hand, have thick, juicy leaves that allow them to store water and nutrients in hot, dry climates. A seemingly simple leaf can actually be quite complex and adaptive.
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