Gramineae

Danthonia disticha Nees

Mountain wire grass

Arundinoideae; Danthonieae. There are 17 species of Merxmuellera, all of which are endemic to southern Africa.

Endemic to mountainous parts of South Africa and Lesotho.

A perennial very densely tufted grass, 150-700 mm in height. Leaf blades 100-500 mm long and to 3.5 mm wide, rolled and wiry, hairless and straight, sometimes curled when older. Sheaths hard and shiny. Inflorescence is a light brown, flattened spike-like panicle, sometimes with shades of purple; 20-100mm long. Spikelets distichous, 2(-5)-flowered. Culms often shorter than the leaves.

This species is considered to be unpalatable due to the hard wiry leaves that make it unacceptable to grazers. However it can be grazed when very young or in areas where little other grazing is available.

Chromosome base number, x = 6.

C₃ photosynthetic pathway.

None reported and considered to be non-toxic.

M. disticha occurs mainly in short grassland in high altitude areas, and also utilises other habitat types such as marshes in the mountains, and is found in a variety of vegetation types. It also occurs in coastal areas. Can become weedy and usurp valuable grazing grass.

Propagation and planting

M. disticha is not propagated.

A summer-growing species that flowers anytime from October to May.

None known

Gibbs-Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1989. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Van Wyk, E. & Van Oudtshoorn, F. 1999. Guide to grasses of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Arcadia, South Africa.