Yellow Pansy (Precis cebrene): A delightful butterfly often found sunning itself on flagstones in gardens, where it may be observed side by side with its namesake the yellow and black pansy flower. Normally seen as a singleton patrolling a favourite open place between flower beds, along footpaths and farm roads,…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 25c Precis cebreneAuthor: thedigitalphilatelist
Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 5c Bushbuck
Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus): The bushbuck delights in thick bush and forest areas, and in riverine vegetation in mountainous country. It is common along the Eastern border forestry estates, and may be found in dense shady places along streams in the Chimanimani National Park where its sudden loud bark and sound…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 5c BushbuckRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 20c Charaxes varanes
Pearl Charaxes (Charaxes varanes): Often considered to be one of the most beautiful of the Charaxes. The flaming brick red wings with mother-of-pearl white central patch make a glorious contrast to the deep shadows of forest clearings in which this butterfly is found. The undersides of its wings resemble an…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 20c Charaxes varanesRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 14c Wormskioldia longepedunculata
Wild Pimpernel (Wormskioldia longepedunculata): The flowers form at the ends of finely haired stalks that have long, very narrow leaves. In their season – the beginning of the rains – the blooms may be seen dotted about singly over the veld. The brilliant deep orange petals have pale undersides. The…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 14c Wormskioldia longepedunculataRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 12½c Adenium obesum
Pink Sabi Star (Adenium obesum): The stem and base of this lowveld ‘shrub’ are smooth and rotund, and it is at times leafless and reminiscent of a tiny, stunted baobab except that the colour differs from the coppery colour of the baobab. The obesity of the stem just beneath the…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 12½c Adenium obesumRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 10c Dicerocaryum zanguebarium
When game animals wandered freely, their hooves often picked up the ‘seedbox’ of this ground creeper with its twin spikes designed for this purpose. The box, or pod, finally fell out of the hoof, sometimes a great distance away, thus widening the distribution of Devil Thorns (Dicerocaryum zanguebarium). Cattle fulfil…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 10c Dicerocaryum zanguebariumRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 7½c Gloriosa superba
Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba): Rhodesia’s national flower, often found near or on rocky kopjes in good humus soil, and visited by the migrating African Vagrant butterflies when it blooms in December. The Shona name of Kajongwe is particularly apt for, as the wind shakes the plant, so the bright red…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 7½c Gloriosa superbaRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 6c Thunbergia lancifolia
The Wild Thunbergia (Thunbergia lancifolia) flowers at the commencement of the wet season in Rhodesia, usually November. It is very common, especially along the sandveld of the central watershed. There is great variation in the intensity of the colours. The saying ‘shades of blue’ springs to mind when seeing these…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 6c Thunbergia lancifoliaRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 4c Reedbuck
The Reedbuck (Redunca arundinum) is very widely distributed, and inhabits reedy vlei country and always remains near water of one sort or another, hence it may sometimes be seen at Dom Pan, Wankie National Park. It is often the quarry of hunting dogs, when it will try to avoid the…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 4c ReedbuckRhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 3c Roan Antelope
The long-legged sauntering walk and proudly nodding head at once suggest a thoroughbred, while the exceptionally haughty bearing marks this antelope as one of the ‘royals’ among big game. Savannah country well studded with thorn trees and scrub mixed with mopane trees are favoured by the Roan Antelope (Ozanna equina equina).…
View More Rhodesia Philately: 1974 Third Definitive Issue – 3c Roan Antelope