#142 Finland...Thanks Pertti!

The left 1 lk stamp shows the flowers of apple tree (Malus domestica),which is from the rose family Rosaceae and is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits.

The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same rootstock.

At least 55 million tons of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion. China produced about 35% of this total. The United States is the second leading producer, with more than 7.5% of world production. Iran is third, followed by Turkey, Russia, Italy and India.

The middle 0.30 euro stamp shows Twinflower (Linnaea borealis),which has a circumpolar distribution in moist subarctic to cool temperate forests, extending further south at high altitudes in mountains, in Europe south to the Alps, in Asia south to northern Japan, and North America south to northern California and Arizona in the west, and Tennessee in the Appalachian Mountains in the east.

Its common name is from the paired flowers. It is one of the few species to be named after Carolus Linnaeus. It was Linnaeus' favourite plant and he took this flower as his own personal symbol when he was raised to the Swedish nobility in 1757. Of it, Linnaeus said "Linnaea was named by the celebrated Gronovius and is a plant of Lapland, lowly, insignificant, disregarded, flowering but for a brief time—from Linnaeus, who resembles it".

The flower is the provincial emblem of Småland in Sweden, Linnaeus' home province. The twinflower has given its name to the popular Swedish female given name Linnéa or Linnea.

The 0.60 euro stamp is Finnish 2009 Christmas stamp.