A colourful selection of the different varieties of fruits grown on the Maltese Islands is depicted on a 16-stamp sheetlet being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost tomorrow.
The set, the work of stamp designer and artist Andrew Micallef, is offset printed by Printex Limited on Maltese Crosses watermarked paper.
The stamps are 35mm X 35mm square format, with a perforation of 14.28 X 14.28. The stamps are available in a common value of 8c cents (0.19 euros)
The prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica – Bajtra tax-Xewk – is of Mesoamerican origin, and was brought to the Mediterranean by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
The grape Ghenba is the fruit of the European grapevine, Vitis vinifera, grown either as a small bush or trained on an overhead trellis.
An evergreen tree, Eriobotrya japonica – Naspla – has large dark green leaves, that flowers in October and the fruit matures the following April, the earliest fruit of the season.
Black mulberries – Tuta – are the fruit of the largest deciduous fruit tree, Morus nigra, in the Maltese Islands, which thrives close to watercourses in shady valleys.
Figs – Tina – are the fruit of the oldest known cultivated fruit tree, Ficus carica. The tree is indigenous to the Mediterranean and has large lobed leaves that are shed in winter.
The lemon, Lumija has an acid bitter taste and is the fruit of the lemon tree, Citrus limon. The pear tree, Pyrus communis – Langasa, has been cultivated since the time of Ancient Greece.
The Japanese plum – Prunus salicina – actually originated in China and is different from the European plum or prune.
The pomegranate tree, Punica granatum – Rummiena – is a native of Persia and was spread around the Mediterranean by the Phoenicians.
The fruit of the tomato plant, Lycopersicon esculentum – Tadama – is a 16th century import from America.
The watermelon, Citrullus vulgaris – Dulliegha, has been cultivated in Africa since ancient times. Like all citrus fruits, the fruit of the orange tree, Citrus sinensis – Laringa is classified as a hesperidium, a fruit with thick rind containing essential oils and a pulp divided into easily separated juicy segments.
The oil-bearing fruit of the olive tree, Olea europaea – Zebbuga, is an evergreen native of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The peach tree, Prunus persica – Hawha, is a native of China that reached Europe along the Silk Route.
A native of Central Asia, the apple tree, Malus domestica – Tuffieha has been cultivated in Europe since Roman times.
The melon, Cucumis melo – Bettieha, a native of Asia, is a trailing or climbing vine.
This set is available in First Day Cover format, cancelled or mint, as a souvenir folder or presentation pack, from all Maltapost Retail Outlets in Malta and Gozo or from the Philatelic Bureau (telephone 2596 1747, e-mail [email protected]).