Monachather paradoxus (R.Br.) Steud. Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 247 (1854).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe Danthonieae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: T: Drumond Hrbr. coll. IV. nr. 396, Australia: Swan river (IT: US-91132 (fragm.)).
Recent synonyms: Danthonia bipartita.
Key references (books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (592 as Danthonia bipartita), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (56 as Danthonia bipartita), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (440 as Monochather paradoxa), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (304), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (303).
Illustrations: [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (55, Pl.14 as danthonia bipartitia), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.3, A-E), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (303, Fig. 238 as M. paradoxa), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (303).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect, 25–70 cm tall. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–16 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, effuse, 5–20 cm long, 2 cm wide.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets (5–6), comprising 5–6 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 8–17 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, chartaceous, without keels, 11–13 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 8–17 mm long, chartaceous, without keels, 11–13 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 2–15 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 3.2–7.8 mm long overall. Palea 0 -nerved, without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.2–1.8 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia: Giles, Helms, Ashburton, Carnarvon, Austin. Irwin, Drummond, Dale, Avon, Coolgardie. Northern Territory: Central Australia North, Central Australia South. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula. Queensland: Darling Downs, Maranoa, Mitchell, Warrego, Gregory South. New South Wales: North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains.
Notes. Arid grasslands, often reported from sand, usually as a minor element with mulga, naked woollybutt, and hard or feathertop spinifex. Flowers May to Sep.
