. Plants of New Zealand. Fi^. 150. Helichrysum graiidiceps (j nat. size). they may, from a short distance, so resemble a sheep, as todeceive the unwary. Hence has arisen the name, vegetablesheep, which is applied to the species of Haastia, and toseveral species of Baoulia. The New Zealand forms ofcushion-plant are found chiefly in stony river-beds { of theWaimakariri, Eakaia, Waitaki), on rocky mountain sides, andalso on shinffle-fans. Their curious forms of leaf and stem DAISY, DANDELION, AND THISTLE FAMILY 429. Fig. 151. Helichrysuro bellidioides (life size). 480 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND ha
. Plants of New Zealand. Fi^. 150. Helichrysum graiidiceps (j nat. size). they may, from a short distance, so resemble a sheep, as todeceive the unwary. Hence has arisen the name, vegetablesheep, which is applied to the species of Haastia, and toseveral species of Baoulia. The New Zealand forms ofcushion-plant are found chiefly in stony river-beds { of theWaimakariri, Eakaia, Waitaki), on rocky mountain sides, andalso on shinffle-fans. Their curious forms of leaf and stem DAISY, DANDELION, AND THISTLE FAMILY 429. Fig. 151. Helichrysuro bellidioides (life size). 480 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND have been developed, probably, as a protection against droughtand excessive radiation (v. Haastia j^ulvinaris, p. 424). Inother parts of the world, patch-plants are found chiefly inalpine districts. Their occurrence in low-land regions, as inNew Zealand river-beds, is exceptional. In the Swiss Alpsthey are represented by certain species of Androsace andSaxifraga, which, however, are rather rosette-plants, than truecushion-plants. They are most abundant in the Andes, where,according to Schimper, their representatives are forms of mostdiverse affinity. This really shows that the common habit ofthe various cushion-plants is due to environment, and notto relationship. Indeed, the conditions of life in some parts ofthe Andes, are so similar to those in the Southern Alps, thatthe vegetation in these widely separated districts is externallymuch alike. A New Zealander, suddenly put dow^n in theAndes of Peru or Bolivia,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectplants, bookyear1906
