1976, Orchids Flowers. Arum 5 Bhutanese chhertum MN H

1976, Orchids Flowers. Arum 

Orchids Flowers. Arum 5 Bhutanese chhertum 1976 MNH

Text:  Bhutan 5 ch
Condition: MNH

Title:   Orchid

Face value:     5 Ch

Country/area:            Bhutan

Year:   29-5-1976

Stamp number in set:           2

Basic colour:  Multi-coloured

Usage:            Franking

Type:   Stamp

Size:  42 x 30 mm

Theme:           Flowers, Flora, Orchids

Perforation:    K 15

Watermark:   Without watermark

Printing:         Offset   

Michel number:         673

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Species information

Scientific name: Arum pictum L.f.

Synonym(s): Arum corsicum

Conservation status: No specific threats are known, although the Mediterranean coastal habitat is being reduced as a result of urban development.

Habitat: Mediterranean scrub land; often under Pinus halepensis.

Key uses: Ornamental.

Known hazards: None known, although related species of Arum are poisonous.

About this species

Arum pictum is unique in the genus Arum in its autumn-flowering, and in this respect, as well as in its horse dung-like scent, resembles members of the related genus Biarum. The shiny, purplish and silver leaves are very beautiful, and persist through the winter.

Native to Majorca (Mallorca), Minorca, Corsica, Sardinia and the west coast of central Italy.

A winter-growing herb with a whitish tuber 5–7 cm across. The arrow-head-shaped leaves are about 30 cm long and 15 cm wide. At first they are shiny and purplish, later becoming silvery or whitish. The flowering stem (spadix) appears with or before the leaves, and smells strongly of horse dung. The spadix is 8–13 cm long, the appendage stout, cylindrical and purplish-black. The sheathing bract (spathe) is 9–19 cm long, 4–6.5 cm wide, greenish on the outside, deep, velvety purple-brown on the inside, with a mottled, greenish tip, and is slightly hooded. Three whorls of organs are found at the base of the spadix and enclosed in the folded spathe: the uppermost is a whorl of bristly staminodes (sterile stamens); in the middle there is a large cluster of small, male flowers; beneath there is a cluster of larger, female flowers. The fruits, which are red when ripe, are berries 5–11 mm long.

The habitat of Arum pictum, like that of all Mediterranean coastal plants, is under pressure as a result of spreading urban development, particularly building for tourism.

Arum pictum is cultivated as an ornamental.

Arum pictum is easily grown in a large pot. It should be kept dry in the summer, and watered in the winter (until May).