''Gonocarpus montanus'' is a

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

terrestrial Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth, as opposed to extraterrestrial. Terrestrial may also refer to: * Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on o ...

herb Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...

in the family Haloragacae. It is native to N.S.W, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand. Common names include mountain raspwort and mat raspwort. Its

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

is ''Haloragis montana.''

Description

''Gonocarpus montanus'', from the family Haoragacae, is a small (10–15 cm) perennial herb which grows both upright and

procumbent This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...

. The stem has short

appressed This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...

hairs running in lines along

internodes A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant, the other being the root. It supports leaves, flowers and fruits, transports water and dissolved substances between the roots and the shoots in the xylem and phloem, engages in pho ...

. Young stems may appear square in cross section.

Leaves

The leaves are arranged opposite on the stem. They are shaped ovate to broad

lanceolate The following terms are used to describe leaf plant morphology, morphology in the description and taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade ...

, about 3.5-10mm long, and 2-6mm wide. They have thick margins with 4-6 teeth. The leaves are

coriaceous This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...

and can be

glabrous Glabrousness () is the technical term for a lack of hair, down, setae, trichomes, or other such covering. A glabrous surface may be a natural characteristic of all or part of a plant or animal, or be due to loss because of a physical condition, ...

, or sparsely

pilose Trichomes (; ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a plant ...

on the base. They are attached to the stem by a

petiole Petiole may refer to: *Petiole (botany), the stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem *Petiole (insect anatomy) In entomology, petiole is the technical term for the narrow waist of some hymenopteran insects, especially ants, bees, and ...

, 1-3mm long.

Flowers

Flowers occur from November to February. Floral

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also lo ...

s are present at the base of each flower and bracts lower on the stem are opposite, becoming alternate up the stem. These bracts are

in shape, 2-4mm long, with smaller (0.8-1.5mm) lanceolate bracteoles (a leaf-like structure between a bract and flower) present that are red/brown with entire margins. The flowers are red and small in Tasmania but range from grey to violet/purple in New Zealand. They are supported by a

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

, 0.2-0.5mm long. They have 4

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s 0.9-1mm long with thick margins, 4 petals 1.5-1.8mm long, 4

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s that attach opposite the sepals, and 4

staminode In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen, which means that it does not produce pollen.Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; ''A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Derivation and Accent''; Published by Gerald Duckworth & Co ...

s 0.5mm long, opposite the petals. Th
anthers
part of the stamen where pollen is produced, are 0.8-1.2mm long. The ovary is ovoid in shape, 1-1.5mm long, and can be a silver-grey to reddish purple colour. It is

and 8 ribbed, often with 2 oblique calluses between ribs.

Fruit

The fruit is 1.5–1.6 mm long, silver-grey and is 1 seeded. File:Gonocarpus montanus hairy stem lines 1.jpg, Photo part 1/2. Hairs in lines along second highest internode evident. Toothed margins of leaves can be seen. File:Gonocarpus montanus hairy stem lines 2.jpg, Photo part 2/2. As it's rotated the hairs along second highest internode "disappear", evidence the hairs run in lines. File:Gonocarpus montanus upright.jpg, Growing in upright form and in flower. File:Gonocarpus montanus flowers.jpg, Flowers are bright pink on this specimen. File:Gonocapus montanus opposite leaf arrangement.jpg, Opposite leaf arrangement is evident.

Similar species

Habitat and distribution

Species_occurence_record_map_of_Gonocarpus_montanus_from_ALA

''Gonocarpus montanus'' occurs in the subalpine and alpine areas of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand. There is an exception in Victoria with an occurrence noted in the Grampians. It is widespread and quite common in the subalpine to alpine, in a variety of habitats and vegetation communities. In Australia, it has been found in feldmark vegetation (Tasmania), layered eastern moor vegetation (Tasmania),Balmer, J. and R.W. Barnes (2000). The impact of fire on species diversity and dominance in an eastern moorland, Central Plateau Tasmania. King William Creek baseline study. Nature Conservation Report 2000/2. Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment, Tasmania. wet sub alpine forests (Victoria), and in alpine heaths including in Kosciuszko National Park (NSW). In New Zealand, it has been found in ''Leptospermum scoparium'' forest, and tussock grasslands.

Ecology

Recorded interactions with the abiotic and biotic environment include: * Non-native deer ('' Cervus unicolor'') in Bogong High Plains Victoria, show a preference to consume ''Gonocarpus montanus,'' especially in February and March. * ''Gonocarpus montanus'' reproductive structures were preserved, leaves did not, in surface sediments in Lake Dobson catchment area in Mt Field national Park, Tasmania. * Increasing peat depth was correlated with an increase in abundance of ''Gonocarpus montanus'' in a study at King William Creek, Tasmania. * Aspect may affect distribution, as in feldmark vegetation at The Boomerang, ''Gonocarpus montanus'' was absent from the easterly and westerly aspects, but present in the northerly and southerly aspects. * At King William Creek, it was generally overtopped in the Layered Eastern Moor community by the dominant graminoids (''Lepidosperma filiforme, Lepyrodia tasmanica, Paa tenera, Empodisma minus, Diplarrena latifolia, Restio australis'' and ''Astelia alpina)''.

Dispersal

In New Zealand it is thought the fruit is wind dispersed.

Etymology

''Gonocarpus'' derived from Greek gonia''' meaning angle or corner and '''carpos''' meaning fruit. This describes its ribbed fruits. 'Montanus' is latin for mountainous.

Uses

A small plant for moist gardens and rockeries at higher altitudes. Can be used as a ground cover in pots with other erect plants, likes to be moist.Plants of Tasmania Nursery and Gardens, 1998, Newsletter, No.4 Spring edition. https://potn.com.au/images/Newsletter4.pdf

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15602099 Flora of Victoria (state) Flora of New South Wales

montanus Montanus (; Greek: Μοντανός) was the second century founder of Montanism and a self-proclaimed prophet. Montanus emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit, in a manner which set him apart from the Great Church. Life Little is known about t ...

Plants described in 1847