Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asterales Link
Family
Compositae Giseke
Genus
Haastia Hook.f.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Haastia pulvinaris Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 156 (1864)
Synonymy:
Lectotype. NEW ZEALAND, South Island, Kaikoura Mtns, A. Sinclair s.n., 1860 (K000844044)
Etymology:
The specific epithet pulvinaris is derived from Latin, meaning ‘of or belonging to a cushion’, referring to the cushion-forming growth habit of this species.
Vernacular Name(s):
Vegetable sheep
 Description

Plant forming rounded masses up to 2 m. diam.; branchlets with lvs c. 2 cm. diam., very densely compacted. Lvs c. 8–10 × 6–10 mm.; tip thickened and crenulate and concealed by dense brush of long tangled slightly fulvous hairs, both surfaces or abaxial only clad in long hairs; veins 3–15, anastomosing above. Receptacle flat or slightly convex, c. 5 mm. diam. Phyll. linear, obtuse to acute, glab. except at tips. Achenes compressed, linear, c. 2 mm. long. Pappus-hairs flattened at base, up to 9 mm. long.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Number of subspecific taxa in New Zealand within Haastia pulvinaris Hook.f.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)1
Total1
 Phenology

Fruiting: Dec.–Mar.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [as Haastia pulvinaris Hook.f. var. pulvinaris] [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Haastia pulvinaris Hook.f. var. pulvinaris] [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.
Nicholls, C.C.; Breitwieser, I.; Ward, J.M.; Pelser, P.B. 2024: Morphometric analyses of New Zealand giant vegetable sheep lead to the recognition of its two varieties as species: Haastia pulvinaris and Haastia minor (Senecioneae: Asteraceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany (Published online: 16 May 2024 )