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First Day Cover text

Fungi are neither plants nor animals, but are of use to us in diverse ways. Just as plants and animals vary in appearance, fungi exist in many different sizes, shapes and colours. From the plain brown of the straw mushroom to the vivid violet of the Marasmius, Hong Kong's fungal species come in myriad textures and have a variety of uses ranging from food to medicinal purposes.

Hongkong Post is issuing a set of four special stamps and a stamp sheetlet on this topic. The colourful stamps offer a stylised representation of some of the better-known fungi found in Hong Kong.

$1.40 - Straw Mushroom
This beautiful stamp depicts the straw mushroom, commonly known as the Chinese mushroom, in a deep lilac setting. This edible species is one of the most widely consumed fresh mushrooms in Hong Kong.

$2.40 - Red-orange Mushroom
The red-orange cinnabar mushroom, inedible by humans, plays an important ecological role in degrading dead organic matter in soil and recycling the nutrients. Pictured on the stamp, this mushroom glows vibrantly against a pale mauve background.

$3 - Violet Marasmius
This tiny, delicate mushroom blooms after rainy days and appears in groups. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine to allay pain and serve as an antiphlogistic, and is pictured attractively here against a multi-hued backdrop.

$5 - Lingzhi
Lingzhi, a natural parasite for woody trees, is found in urban and country parks throughout Hong Kong. A leading element in traditional Chinese medicine, it is associated with good health, longevity and wisdom. The stamp features young Lingzhi's stunning shiny red cap with its white growing margin in a frame of yellow.

$5 Stamp Sheetlet - Hexagon Fungus
The Hexagon Fungus is characterised by its tough skin and kidney-shaped cap with hexagonal tubes resembling a honeycomb, and is generally found on fallen twigs in forest and green areas.

This sheetlet features a detail of the Hexagon Fungus together with selected images from the other stamps in this beautifully rendered issue.

The First Day Cover features an illustration comprising both a mature and a young mushroom, set against a refreshing pastel background with soft green watercolour splashes representing blades of grass. The mushroom is orange waxcap, also known as Witch's Hat, and is commonly found in unfertilised grassland.