Canada Post highlights fungi on Aug. 27 set of five

By David Hartwig

Canada Post issued a set of five stamps Aug. 27 to highlight the beauty and importance of fungi in Canadian ecosystems.

“Growing awareness of the importance of biodiversity and traditional Indigenous knowledge has renewed our fascination with fungi and lichens,” Canada Post said.

The nondenominated stamps pay the basic domestic letter rate (currently $1.24) and are issued in booklets of 10 as two horizontal strips of five. Each stamp shows one of five different fungus species found in Canada with designs reminiscent of botanical illustrations.

The stamps feature star-tipped reindeer lichen (Cladonia stellaris), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) and the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.

In an Aug. 27 press release, Canada Post discussed the wide variety of fungi’s uses, many of which are exemplified in the above species.

“Fungi, most of which are microscopic, are important decomposers that break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.” Canada Post said. “Some fungi can store carbon, while others can break down harmful pollutants like plastics and synthetic chemicals. Most plants rely on fungi for their survival and growth. Since time immemorial, traditional Indigenous practices have also used fungi for medicinal purposes, pigments or food.” …

The stamps were printed in a quantity of 120,000 booklets of 10. Canada Post also produced an official first-day cover in a quantity of 5,000. The Canada Post ordering numbers are 414299111 for the booklet of 10 and 414299131 for the FDC.

The FDC is canceled in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, which is near Touchwood Hills, a wooded area known to be a source of tinder fungus. …

Canada Post stamps and related items are available online at www.canadapost.ca/shop. Stamps and FDCs are available by mail order from Canada Post Customer Service, Box 90022, 2701 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 1J8 Canada; or by telephone from the United States or Canada at 800-565-4362, and from other countries at 902-863-6550.

To read the complete story about the new Canada Fungi stamps, subscribe to Linn’s Stamp News.

Connect with Linn’s Stamp News: 

    Sign up for our newsletter