Raoulia eximia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raoulia eximia |
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Raoulia eximia is a unique plant found only in New Zealand. It belongs to the aster family, which includes daisies and sunflowers. This plant is often called tutāhuna in the Māori language. It's also known as the true vegetable sheep. This name comes from how it looks from far away. It really does look like a sheep!
The famous botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker first officially described this plant in 1864.
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What is a Vegetable Sheep?
The vegetable sheep plant has a very special look. Its stems are super branched and packed together. You can only see the tiny buds on the outside. These buds never fully open.
The plant's small, woolly leaves are tightly packed at the end of its twigs. This makes the whole plant feel dense and hard. It forms a round, cushion-like shape. Leonard Cockayne, a botanist, even said it makes "an excellent and appropriate seat."
How to Spot Raoulia eximia
Many Raoulia species can look similar. But Raoulia eximia is special. It's often called the Canterbury vegetable sheep. You usually find it growing on rocky areas. It has a grey to grey-green color. Its buds are also quite narrow.
Detailed Description of the Plant
Joseph Dalton Hooker described this plant as very stiff. It forms large, woolly balls on mountains. These balls are covered in soft, white, velvety hairs. The leaves are tiny, about 1/8 inch long. They are completely hidden by these woolly hairs. The hairs form thick bundles that cover the whole plant.
The plant grows into circular cushions. These can be 1 meter (about 3 feet) or more wide. They can also be up to 5 decimeters (about 1.5 feet) tall. This shape is made by its woody branches. They grow very close together. The plant also has a strong main stem.
Where Does the Vegetable Sheep Live?
New Zealand is home to many unique plants. About 93 percent of its alpine plants are found nowhere else. Alpine plants grow in high mountain areas. While New Zealand has few alpine plant groups, Raoulia is one of the most famous.
Where to Find Raoulia eximia
You can spot the light-colored cushions of the true vegetable sheep. They grow in the drier, open mountain areas. These are found east of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. You can see them from north Otago to southern Nelson-Marlborough. They are also found from mid-Canterbury to north Otago. Look for them on rocky ground and open fields. These areas are usually in subalpine to alpine zones. This means high up in the mountains.
How Does it Survive in its Habitat?
Mountain soils are often formed by wind-blown material. But strong winds, cold summers, and freezing/thawing cycles remove this soil. This means plants in alpine zones face tough conditions.
Soil and Water Conditions
Raoulia eximia grows in raw soils. These soils have very low nutrients. For example, they have low levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. The plant is exposed to a lot of moisture in the soil. This is true except when the ground is frozen. However, too much rain can make the soil more acidic. It can also wash away important nutrients. Despite these challenges, Raoulia eximia thrives!
