On the vegetable sheep only the buds, that never unfold, can be seen externally because their stems are so branched, and have small woolly leaves that are disposed on the extremity of the twigs in a closely tight way.

[2] The dense, hard and convex shape of Raoulia eximia formed by its compressed structures, according to Cockayne[3] it makes "an excellent and appropriate seat for a wearied botanist".

[4] Raoulia eximia, the Canterbury vegetable sheep, usually found on rock outcrops has grey to grey-green colouration and narrow buds.

describe the species as a rigid plant that form large woolly balls on the mountains covered in soft, velvety, white tomentum.

[7] The light-coloured cushions of the true vegetable sheep can be found on the drier fellfields located on the east of the Southern Alps, between north Otago and southern Nelson Marlborough,[7] from mid-Canterbury to north Otago[8] and in the S. Subalpine to alpine rocky ground and fellfield from lat.