By Syd Kronish
Associated Press
Science fiction has portrayed carnivorous plants as bloodthirsty killers waiting for jungle explorers to wander into their clutches. This is nice melodrama, but pure fabrication.
Truth be told, carnivorous plants are rather beautiful and colorful and are native to North America. Last year the U.S. Postal Service released a quartet of carnivores capturing small insects, their normal prey.
The stamps feature Venus' flytrap, the yellow trumpet, the English sundew and the cobra lily. Venus' flytrap is shown with a butterfly caught in its leaves. These are found in the Carolinas.
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The yellow trumpet is seen with a fly in its leaves. They are found in the southeastern region of the United States.
The English sundew is shown using its sticky leaves to trap small insects found in mossy bogs of the U.S. Southwest.
The cobra lily has captured a wasp in its mouth. This plant is native to the West Coast and is sometimes called the cobra plant.
For further information on the carnivorous plant set, call 1-800-STAMP-24 or visit the Postal Store at www.usps.com.
Floral motif
Flowers are popular subjects for U.S. stamps.
In 1992, the U.S. Postal Service released a set of 30 colorful wild flowers (29-cent denomination) found in various sections of the country.
Some of the unusual names are: yellow lady's slipper, Indian pond lily, Mexican hat, yellow skunk cabbage, jack-in-the-pulpit, shooting star, bunchberry, Dutchman's breeches and plains prickly pear.
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Do any grow in your garden?
Correction notes
It was reported in a recent column that the pane of 20 stamps featuring "American Illustrators" is available through the U.S. Fulfillment Services of the USPS. It no longer is available there. The stamps can, however, be obtained at your local dealer.
It also was incorrectly reported recently that the stamp honoring the flag-raising at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks will be released next spring. It, in fact, will be released this spring, after new rates become effective.
