The Poinsettia

Designed by P. Lambert and expertly printed via photogravure by Delrieu, this regular postage issue features a striking botanical study of the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). The centralized vignette contrasts the plant's brilliant crimson floral bracts and small, clustered yellow cyathia against a deep background field, isolating the architectural structure of the tropical shrub. Historically, this release forms part of a definitive series cataloging the rich ornamental and introduced flora flourishing throughout the microclimates of the volcanic archipelago. By archiving this species, the territorial administration documented the botanical diversity of the overseas territory, using precise scientific illustration to illustrate the intersection of native and naturalized ecosystems across the islands.