View Te Ara in

Story: Alpine plants

Stewart Island vegetable sheep

Stewart Island vegetable sheep

Vegetable sheep are compact daisy shrubs that form thick hummocks up to a metre in diameter. The hummock consists of closely packed shoots and leaves. From a distance some of them resemble the shape and colour of sheep, as their leaves are covered in woolly hairs. The bright green Stewart Island vegetable sheep (Raoulia goyenii) is less likely to be mistaken for the animal.

About this item

Private collection
Photograph by Carl Walrond

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

How to cite this page:

Hugh Wilson. 'Alpine plants', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Mar-09
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/alpine-plants/3/1