A set of special stamps featuring ancient plants, dubbed "living fossils", will be released on Sunday, according to Friday's China Post.

The set of four stamps depict a gingko, a Chinese cypress, a dove tree and a Chinese tulip.

"Living fossil" usually refers to the few living cases of extinct species that used to flourish in many places around the world in the early geologic age. These plants bear similar characters to their ancestors.

Most of the trees were destroyed when the Quaternary Period glaciers appeared some 2 million years ago, but some have survived in China.

A series of associated stamp products like first-day covers will also be on sale from the same date, which are jointly designed and printed by the China National Philatelic Corporation and Beijing Stamp Company.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)