“America the Beautiful” is colorfully displayed once again on U.S. postage stamps.

The fourth in the series titled “Nature of America” an educational pictorial program promoting the appreciation of North America’s major plant and animal life will feature a pane of 10 stamps depicting the Longleaf Pine Forest.

The panoramic pane shows the diversity of species found in the pine forest located in the coastal plains from southeast Virginia to eastern Texas. There are 27 species noted. The entire pane is divided into intertwining 34-cent stamps.

The first in the series, released in 1999, was dedicated to the Sonoran Desert in the southwest United States, and pictured such animals as the desert tortoise, desert mule deer and a variety of birds.

The second in the series, issued in 2000, displayed the Pacific Coast Rain Forest, which extends from northern California to Alaska. Seen are the harlequin duck, Roosevelt elk and numerous species of birds.

The third series in 2001 depicted the Great Plains Prairie, which stretches from the eastern woodlands to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Featured were prairie dogs, bison and birds.

The Longleaf Pine Forest series will be issued sometime in April. First-day covers can be obtained by calling (800) STAMP-24.