Canada Post has released five new stamps showcasing the beauty of fungi and lichens while drawing attention to their ecological and cultural importance.
The issue was officially unveiled on Aug. 27 in Punnichy, Sask., near the Touchwood Hills, a region historically known to the Cree as a source of tinder fungus.
The stamps were designed by Jocelyne Saulnier of Joce Creative and illustrated by Emily S. Damstra. Styled in the tradition of botanical illustrations, the issue includes five Permanent domestic-rate stamps plus an Official First-Day Cover. The cancellation site, Punnichy, was chosen for its connection to tinder fungus, also called “touchwood fungus” or posâkan in Cree.
According to a Canada Post press release, fungi play a crucial role in Canadian ecosystems as decomposers, breaking down dead plants and animals and returning nutrients to the soil. Some fungi store carbon, while others can degrade pollutants such as plastics and synthetic chemicals. Most plants depend on fungi for survival and growth. Traditional Indigenous practices have also long used fungi as food, pigments and medicine.
The new stamps depict five species found in Canada. Star-tipped reindeer lichen (Cladonia stellaris), a symbiotic organism found across the country, thrives in northern regions. The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is both a common culinary ingredient and a traditional food for Indigenous Peoples. Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), with its large orange-yellow shelves, was traditionally used by First Nations to soften and smooth buckskin for clothing. Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius), known for its hard, long-lasting conks, served as a traditional source of tinder, including among First Nations. Finally, Rhizophagus irregularis, a microscopic fungus that naturally integrates with plant roots, can be added to soil to improve crop health.
The stamps and related products are available online at canadapost.ca and at select postal outlets nationwide.