and Indipex International Stamp Exhibition, Delhi
pitcairnense was first discovered on Pitcairn in 1934 by
two American botanists, H. St. John and F. R. Fosberg on an expedition
from Honolulu. Further research of Pitcairn flora was carried out in
1991 via the Sir Peter Scott Memorial expedition but this,
and another expedition in 1997, failed to find the elusive flower.
After a period of many years, during which time it was presumed
extinct, the Yellow fautu was discovered as a flowering specimen in
mixed native forest in July 2002 by Pitcairn resident Carol Warren.
botanists Noeleen Smyth and Steve Waldren, visiting Pitcairn in 2003 to
study the invasive Roseapple, obtained cuttings and seed from this sole
individual plant which were then sown and grown with difficulty in the
Island nursery. Smyth uplifted cuttings and took them to Trinity
College Botanic Gardens in 2003 and these flowered in 2005 but no seeds
were obtained. A cutting was transferred to the National Botanic
Gardens in Dublin in 2008 for propagating and flower buds first
appeared in 2009. In 2005 the original plant at Tedside was destroyed
by a landslide, so more cuttings were distributed to other botanic
gardens such as Kew to ensure their long-term survival. The project to
restore this endangered plant is funded by the Mohammed Bin Zayed
Conservation Fund and it is hoped to experiment with the seeds
produced. The conservation project is ongoing and a positive outcome
for this rare plant is planned. Through combining invasive species
control, restoration of native vegetation and the proposed
reintroduction of Abutilon
pitcairnense to various parts of the Island, a planned
approach to target species conservation and restore the endangered
associated habitat is underway. Plants have been returned to
Pitcairn to re-establish a population in the wild and a site at Big
Rock near Pulau was the first to be developed.
remains listed as a critically endangered species (IUCN 2000).
The plant itself is described as a sprawling shrub, approximately 1M
tall with alternate leaves 13 x 9cm.The flowers are somewhat bell
shaped and appear to be nodding. They are yellow with 3cm long petals.
The plant is found in scrub on often unstable slopes, and flowers in
July / August.
commemorate the attendance of the Pitcairn Islands Philatelic Bureau at
the International Stamp Exhibition in Delhi in February (Indipex 2011),
a miniature sheet has been produced featuring important images from
both locations. India is represented by the national flower Lotus Nelumbo nucipera gaertn
and the internationally known Taj Mahal, while Pitcairn is represented
by the endangered Yellow fautu Abutilon
pitcairnense. Both flowers have been brought together in
this colourful miniature sheet.
Delhi, February 2011
Please Note: All prices are in New
|Set of 2 stamps
|First Day Cover with 2 stamps
|Indipex Miniature Sheet
|Indipex First Day
Cover with Miniature Sheet
The Pitcairn Islands Philatelic Bureau would like to recognise the
invaluable help of Noeleen Smyth in making this issue possible.
to you by:
||Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand
||42.8 mm x 30.0 mm horizontal
||137mm x 93mm horizontal
||14.0 x 14.0
||Stamps $2.50; $3.00
||114gsm Tullis Russell non phosphor paper
|12 February 2011
for a period of 2 years