Etymology:
Latin, montanus, pertaining to mountains, in reference to the occurrence on steep high ridges.
Historical notes: Distinguishing features: Closely allied to M. communis, differing in the shorter and broader petioles with more reduced spine-like leaflets, and the somewhat glossier leaflets. Spines terminating sporophylls are also longer, most notably in female cones. Distribution and habitat: New South Wales, Macleay to Manning catchments. Locally abundant in wet sclerophyll forests on ridges in the ranges or the eastern escarpment of the Northern Tablelands. Conservation status: Not considered to be at risk (IUCN Red List category LR,lc).
Description:
Plants acaulescent or arborescent (sometimes), stem 0-0.6 m tall, 25-45 cm diam. Leaves 20-70 in crown, deep green, semiglossy to highly glossy, 100-205 cm long, flat (not keeled) in section, with 70-140 leaflets; rachis not spirally twisted, straight, stiff; petiole 6-15 cm long, straight, spinescent, 10-20 mm wide at lowest leaflets; basal leaflets reducing to spines. Leaflets simple, strongly discolorous; margins flat; apex entire, spinescent; median leaflets 200-350 mm long, 7-10 mm wide. Pollen cones fusiform, 35-40 cm long, 6-8 cm diam.; microsporophyll lamina 23-27 mm long, 22-26 mm wide; apical spine 5-60 mm long. Seed cones ovoid, 24-34 cm long, 12-14 cm diam.; megasporophyll with an expanded peltate apex 45-70 mm wide, 25-40 mm high; apical spine 20-110 mm long. Seeds oblong, 33-42 mm long, 25-30 mm wide; sarcotesta red.
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