''Raoulia'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
plants in the tribe
Gnaphalieae
The Gnaphalieae, commonly known as paper daisies, are a tribe of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is most closely related to the tribes Anthemideae, Astereae, and Calenduleae.
Characteristics
This group is most diverse in South Ame ...
within the family
Asteraceae
Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...
.
Many ''Raoulia'' species grow in alpine areas, forming very fine and dense growths. These compact growths form large amorphous
cushion-like masses with only the growing tips visible. Due to their shape and form, the plant clusters resemble sheep from afar, this giving them their alternate name, vegetable sheep.
Haastia pulvinaris
''Haastia pulvinaris'', or vegetable sheep, is a species of perennial alpine plant that grows in a bizarre, sheep-like formation on scree slopes in the South Island of New Zealand.
It is not actually a sheep; but from far away, the vegetable sh ...
is another species of plant that is also known as vegetable sheep, and which grows in similar environments.
The range of some species, such as ''
Raoulia beauverdii'', includes coastal places.
Taxonomy
; Species
[The Plant List search for ''Raoulia'']
/ref>
; Formerly included[
* '' Argyrotegium mackayi'' (''Raoulia mackayi)
]
Cultivation
Slow spreading, flat rock garden
A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small ...
plant with silver-gray, almost moss-like, foliage.
* sun: full sun, part shade
* height:
* width: spreads to around .
* water: regular
* hardiness: according to one source, according to another
* heat tolerance: unknown
See also
* Vegetable Lamb of Tartary
The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary (Latin: or ) is a legendary zoophyte of Central Asia, once believed to grow sheep as its fruit. It was believed the sheep were connected to the plant by an umbilical cord and grazed the land around the plant. When ...
(mythological plant)
References
Endemic flora of New Zealand
Asteraceae genera
Gnaphalieae
{{Gnaphalieae-stub