1997-17, Flowers (joint issue with New Zealand)《花卉》

Stamp Title: Flowers (joint issue with New Zealand)
Scott No: 2798
Serial number: 1997-17
Values in set: 2
(2-1), China Rose (left), 150 fen, 30*40mm
(2-2), New Zealand Monthly Rose (right), 150 fen, 30*40mm
Date of issue: October 9,1997
Designers: Zhang Guizheng
Size: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: gravure

China and New Zealand jointly issued the stamps “Flowers” to promote the friendship between the two peoples.

Rose and Chinese rose belong to the family of rose and genus of rose. There are more than 200 kinds of rose in the world and over 70 in China, most of which are famous ones. After long-time cultivating, crossbreeding and artificial breeding, there have been more than 20,000 kinds of rose in the world. They have always been the most popular and widely planted ornamental plants, playing an important role in the economic and people’s lives.

Chinese roses originally grew in China’s Liaoning and Shandong provinces. Now they are widely planted in China and other countries. They belong to tussock machaka, and grow as high as two metres. They are resistant to gold and drought; they are light-loving plants, and do not demand much in regards of soil; they grow fast, and their flowering phase is from May to September, and bearing phase from September to October. The flowers of cultivated Chinese roses are large in size, fragrant and colourful, especially the elegant purplish red roses, which can match peonies. Their full-blooming phase is from April to May. Besides its functions as ornamental and greening plants, the fresh flower petals contain 0.03% perfume oil, which is the precious source of essence to produce high-grade cosmetics, food or medicine.

New Zealand rose is a flower the New Zealand people like to plant. The rose in the stamp is called “home of white cloud”, which is cultivated by famous thremmatologist Sam Mag, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of New Zealand. This rose is beautiful, romantic, elegantly light in colour, and clear in gradation of colors. With long flowering phase, it suits humid and warm climate. This flower is known as “the symbol of a young and energetic New Zealand.”

1997年特种邮票《花卉》
国家邮政局1997年10月9日发行《花卉》特种邮票1套2枚。（与新西兰联合发行）
T （2-1）中国玫瑰 150 分 3103.7万枚
T （2-2）新西兰月季 150 分 3103.7万枚

志号名称：1997-17T
整版枚数：40 枚
版别：影写
齿孔度数：11.5 度
邮票规格：30 × 40毫米
设计者：张桂珍（中国）、保罗·马汀森（新西兰）
印制机构：北京邮票厂

玫瑰和月季，均为蔷薇科蔷薇属植物，但分属不同的群(组)。现在，世界上野生的蔷薇约有200种，分布在北半球温带及亚热带山区，少数种类分布在非洲东北部及墨西哥。我国约有90种，是世界蔷薇类植物的主要分布中心，也是蔷薇花卉种质资源的主要发源地。玫瑰、月季是世界著名的花卉，都有着悠久的栽培历史，中国、希腊、罗马、巴比伦、埃及等文明古国，早在公元前就有栽培的记载。现于世界范围广泛种植深受人民喜爱。

1997年10月9日，为表达中国和新西兰两国人民的友谊和追求更加美好未来的愿望，邮电部和新西兰邮政联合发行了《花卉》特种邮票，全套2枚。