428 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



many parts of the world there are no examples of these 

 curious and interesting forms of vegetation, except amongst 

 the mosses. In New Zealand, however, there is quite a large 

 number of phanerogamic cushion-plants. The most typical 

 examples are to be found in the genera Eaoulia and Haastia. 

 When species of these genera are covered with woolly hairs, 



Fig. 150. Helichrysuni grandiceps (f nat. size.) 



they may, from a short distance, so resemble a sheep, as to 

 deceive the unwary. Hence has arisen the name, " vegetable 

 sheep," which is applied to the species of Haastia, and to 

 several species of Raoulia. The New Zealand forms of 

 cushion-plant are found chiefly in stony river-beds (e.g. of the. 

 Waimakariri, Kakaia, Waitaki) , on rocky mountain sides, and 

 also on shingle-fans. Their curious forms of leaf and stem 



