The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-02-26
The T"egefable Sheep.

This is very curious plant which grows
in New Zealand. 1t is q near botanical rel
alive of that "modest crimson-tipped flew
err" the common daisy, as well as of the
Michaelmas daisy, dandelion, &c. In
short, it belongs to a group of plants num-
bering about a thousand species, and very
widely distributed in all parts of the globe.
This group, or natural order, is called by
botanists the Composite, from the compos-
tic nature of its flowers, for what is popu-
larly called flower in this family of
plants is, in fact, an indefinite number of
small flowers arranged in one head on a
1eshy or succulent disk, called a recepta-
Gle. The sunhower, which is likewise a
member of the same family, offers good
example of q composite flower, inasmach as
its parts being on a large scalea microscope
is not necessary to examine them.
| The receptacle is that part which, after
the flowers have died off, is seen studded
with little black appendages called seeds,
but each of which is in reality an individ-
ual fruit perfect in itself, and called an
achene. Each of these so-called seeds
during the Towering of the plant had a
perfect flower attached to it, the organs of
which in the course of nature performed
their functions, and produced and ripened
the fruit. These small, distinct flowers are
called florets, and the florets are often of a
distinct shape, as for instance the crimson
tipped" petals on the circumference of the
daisy are larger and more spreading than
those in the centre. Hence, those on the
outside of the circle are called f1orets of
the ray, and those in the centre forets of
the disk.
he, i, hoo ,l,o aota 1xr
distinguished in small plants, as the sun
flower and daisy, they are, nevertheless,
present in the sheep plant, and similar fluffy
growing plants of the same order.
To look at these tufts as they grow, or
even at the specimen in the Kew Museum,
London0 the plants appear as much I'M
like daisies, or anything approaching to
daisies, or even to plant life, as it is posi-
BILE to be.
The tufts or masses vary considerably In
size, some being so large that in the dis
lance, up the mountains, the shepherds are
frequently deceived by them, mistaking
them for sheep that have strayed from the
flock. Nor is this deception dispelled by
nearer approach, the shaggy appearance
being very like the woolly coat of sheep
The shape of the mass is somewhat varied;
but they are mostly of such an irregular
spherical form as to be easily mistaken for
sheep when that animal is partially curled
up in a reclining posture.
Upon closer examination of these tufts,
it will be seen that the whole mass is divi-
ded into numerous small tufts or knobs, ir
regular in form, and varying in size, but
averaging from the sixteenth to quarter
of an inch in diameter. Each of these little
knobs is an entire and individual plant,
containing leaves and flower, both of which
are of course, microscopically minute, and
are hidden and densely compacted together
by the numerous woolly or velvety hairs
with which they are covered. The flowers
though to minute, are in compound heads,
like the daisy, though the forets do not
exceed ten in number.
Thus we see that the extraordinary wool
ly appearance ofthese singular plants is due
to the large development of glandular
hairs, which so cover the leaves as to hide
both them and the flowers, so that enc of
these tufts is made up of multitude of in
dividuals plants SO compacted together by
the hairs on the leaves as to give an idea
at first sight, and in the distance, of its be-
ing veritable sheep, and even upon closer
examination it might be taken for mass of
sponge, or, perhaps, some huge fungus.
The scientific name of the plant is Raou-
LA erimea, the generic name of Raoutia be-
ing given in honor of NJ. Raoul, French
naval surgeon, who paid some attention to
New Zealand plants.