Monstera is a genus of 59 species of in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of central and south America.
Etymology
The genus is named from the
Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual
leaf with natural holes, or
Perforate leaf (slits) and perforations (holes), that most members of the genus have.
Description
Growth pattern
They are
evergreen , growing to heights of in trees, climbing by means of
which act as hooks over branches; these roots will also grow into the soil to help support the plant. Since plants in the genus root both into the soil and over trees, it is considered a
hemiepiphyte with roots in soil but climbing on trees.
Aerial roots hanging directly to the ground have, according to Madison, measured up to one hundred feet (thirty meters) in height.
Leaves
The
leaf are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from long (up to long in
M. gigas) and broad, often with holes in the leaf blade. The
fenestrated leaf allow for the leaves to spread over greater area to increase sunlight exposure, and to allow light to reach other leaves below, by using less energy to produce and maintain the leaves.
Inflorescence
The
are borne on a specialized
inflorescence called a spadix, long; the fruit is a cluster of berries, with significant variation in color, edible in some species.
Uses
They are commonly grown indoors as
. The best-known representative of the genus,
Monstera deliciosa, is also cultivated for its edible fruit which tastes like a combination of peach and pineapple.
Species
''Plants of the World Online'' recognizes 70 accepted [[taxa|Taxon]] (of 64 species and 6 infraspecific names):
-
Monstera acacoyaguensis
-
Monstera acuminata – Shingle plant
-
Monstera adansonii
-
Monstera adansonii subsp. adansonii
-
Monstera adansonii subsp. blanchetii
-
Monstera adansonii subsp. klotzschiana
-
Monstera adansonii subsp. laniata
-
Monstera alcirana
-
Monstera alfaroi
-
Monstera amargalensis
-
Monstera anomala
-
Monstera aureopinnata
-
Monstera barrieri
-
Monstera bocatorensis
-
Monstera boliviana
-
Monstera buseyi
-
Monstera cenepensis
-
Monstera costaricensis
-
Monstera croatii
-
Monstera deliciosa – Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant
-
Monstera dissecta
-
Monstera donosoensis
-
Monstera dubia
-
Monstera egregia
-
Monstera epipremnoides
-
Monstera filamentosa
-
Monstera florescanoana
-
Monstera gambensis
-
Monstera gentryi
-
Monstera gigas
-
Monstera glaucescens
-
Monstera gracilis
-
Monstera guzmanjacobiae
-
Monstera integrifolia
-
Monstera juliusii
-
Monstera kessleri
-
Monstera kikiae
-
Monstera kessleri
-
Monstera lechleriana
-
Monstera lentii
-
Monstera limitaris
-
Monstera luteynii
-
Monstera maderaverde
-
Monstera membranacea
-
Monstera minima
-
Monstera mittermeieri
-
Monstera molinae
-
Monstera momoi
-
Monstera monteverdensis
-
Monstera obliqua
-
Monstera oreophila
-
Monstera pinnatipartita
-
Monstera pittieri
-
Monstera planadensis
-
Monstera praetermissa
-
Monstera punctulata
-
Monstera siltepecana
-
Monstera spruceana
-
Monstera standleyana
-
Monstera subpinnata
-
Monstera tablasensis
-
Monstera tacanaensis
-
Monstera tarrazuensis
-
Monstera tenuis
-
Monstera titanum
-
Monstera tuberculata
-
Monstera tuberculata var. brevinoda
-
Monstera tuberculata var. tuberculata
-
Monstera vasquezii
-
Monstera wilsoniensis
-
Monstera xanthospatha
Previously included:
-
Monstera alticola
-
Monstera bocatorana
-
Monstera coloradensis
-
Monstera fortunense
-
Monstera gigantea (Roxb.) Schott - Epipremnum giganteum (Roxb.) Schott
-
Monstera jefense
-
Monstera pirrense
Commonly misidentified as
Monstera:
-
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
-
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
External links
