Birch, Oak & Willow on Swiss Stamps...

Date of Issue - 8 May 2009

Hi ! Here are the recent issues from Switzerland Postal Service depicting old trees. These stamps were issued on the 8th of May 2009. These feature Birch, Oak and Willow trees. These commemorative tree stamps have been issued to remind all of this decisive key resource that is vital for our oxygen, water, and climate. Today Trees provide us with food, clothing, medicines, houses and many other things. But they must be managed as any other resource, because without them our world would be much different.To save the trees all over the world the Forestry legislation has been introduced and forestry has been developed as a science to bring the trees back. The important trees depicted on these Swiss stamps have their own value. I am giving brief information about them below. These are the nice beautiful stamps featuring huge trees may become important items for the collectors of stamps on Plants and Trees ! This is all for today....Till Next Post.....Have a Nice Time !......

Birch (85 Chf)- More than 100 species located in the Northern Hemisphere. In Switzerland most common is the silver birches. Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae.Pieces of birch bark used like paper, for a document writing. Birch bark documents existed in several cultures.

Medicinal uses
In northern latitudes birch is considered to be the most important allergenic tree pollen, with an estimated 15-20% of hay fever sufferers sensitive to birch pollen grains. The chaga mushroom is an adaptogen that grows on white birch trees, extracting the birch constituents and is used as a remedy for cancer.The bark is high in betulin and betulinic acid, phytochemicals which have potential as pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals which show promise as industrial lubricants.Birch bark can be soaked until moist in water, and then formed into a cast for a broken arm.

Oak (100 Chf) - more than 450 species located in the Northern Hemisphere. In Switzerland most common is the pedunculate, downy and sessile oak. The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus ( Latin "oak tree"), which are listed in the List of Quercus species, and some related genera, notably Lithocarpus. The genus is native to the northern hemisphere, and includes deciduous and evergreen species extending from cold latitudes to tropical Asia and the Americas.

Uses
The bark of Quercus suber, or Cork oak, is used to produce wine stoppers (corks). This species grows in the Mediterranean Sea region, with Portugal, Spain, Algeria and Morocco producing most of the world's supply. Of the North American oaks, the Northern red oak Quercus rubra is the most prized of the red oak group for lumber, all of which is marketed as red oak regardless of the species of origin. It is not good for outdoor use due to the open capillaries. One can blow air through an end grain piece 10 inches long to make bubbles come out in a glass of water. These opening give fungus easy access when the finish deteriorates. The standard for the lumber of the white oak group, all of which is marketed as white oak, is the White Oak Quercus alba. White Oak is often used to make wine barrels. The wood of the deciduous Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur and Sessile Oak Quercus petraea account for most of the European oak production, but evergreen species, such as Holm oak Quercus ilex, and Cork oak Quercus suber also produce valuable timber.

The bark of the White Oak is dried and used in medical preparations. Oak bark is also rich in tannin, and is used by tanners for tanning leather. Acorns are used for making flour or roasted for acorn coffee. Oak galls were used for centuries as the main ingredient in manuscript ink, harvested at a specific time of year.Japanese oak is used in the making of professional drums from manufacturer Yamaha Drums. The rough, hard surface of oak gives the drum a brighter and louder tone compared to traditional drum materials such as maple and birch.

Willow (130 Chf) - More than 350 species worldwide. In Switzerland most common is the white, crack, pussy and grey willow. Willows, form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are known as willow, but some narrow-leaved shrub species are called osier, and some broader-leaved species are called sallow (the latter name is derived from the Latin word salix, willow). Some willows (particularly arctic and alpine species), are low-growing or creeping shrubs; for example, the dwarf willow (Salix herbacea) rarely exceeds 6 cm in height, though spreading widely across the ground.

Manufacturing
Willow wood is used in the manufacture of boxes, brooms, cricket bats (grown from certain strains of white willow), cradle boards, chairs and other furniture, dolls, flutes, poles, sweat lodges, toys, turnery, tool handles, veneer, wands and whistles. In addition tannin, fibre, paper, rope and string, can be produced from the wood. Willows are also popular for Wicker (often from osiers), which is used in Basket weaving, fish traps, wattle fences and wattle and daub.