| Monstera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Monstera deliciosa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Subfamily: | Monsteroideae |
| Tribe: | Monstereae |
| Genus: | Monstera Adans. [1] |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Monstera is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of central and south America. [2]
The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leaves with natural holes, or fenestrations(slits) and perferations(holes), that most members of the genus have. [3]
They are evergreen vines, growing to heights of 20 metres (66 ft) in trees, climbing by means of aerial roots 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. [4]
The leaves are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from 25–90 centimetres (9.8–35.4 in) long (up to 300 centimetres (120 in) long in M. gigas) and 15–75 centimetres (5.9–29.5 in) broad, often with holes in the leaf blade. The fenestrated leaves 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. [5]
The flowers are borne on a specialized inflorescence called a spadix, 5–95 centimetres (2.0–37.4 in) long; the fruit is a cluster of berries, with significant variation in color, edible in some species.
They are commonly grown indoors as houseplants. 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.
As of November 2022 [update] Plants of the World Online recognizes 70 accepted taxa (of 64 species and 6 infraspecific names): [2] [6]
Previously included:[ clarification needed ][ citation needed ]
Commonly misidentified as Monstera:
The Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe. Also known as the arum family, members are often colloquially known as aroids. This family of 114 genera and about 3,750 known species is most diverse in the New World tropics, although also distributed in the Old World tropics and northern temperate regions.
Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumb caneorleopard lily, is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Araceae. It is native to the New World Tropics from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina. Some species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants, especially as houseplants, and have become naturalized on a few tropical islands.
Syngonium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical rainforests in southern Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America. They are woody vines growing to heights of 10–20 m or more in trees. They have leaves that change shape according to the plant's stage of growth, and adult leaf forms are often much more lobed than the juvenile forms usually seen on small house plants. The scientific name of the genus comes from the Greek words σύν and γονή and refers to the fused ovaries of female flowers.
Philodendron is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. As of June 2013, the Plants of the World Online accepted 621 species; other sources accept different numbers. Regardless of number of species, the genus is the second-largest member of the family Araceae, after genus Anthurium. Taxonomically, the genus Philodendron is still poorly known, with many undescribed species. Many are grown as ornamental and indoor plants. The name derives from the Greek words philo- 'love, affection' and dendron 'tree'. The generic name, Philodendron, is often used as the English name.
Monstera deliciosa, the Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron is a species of flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama. It has been introduced to many tropical areas, and has become a mildly invasive species in Hawaii, Seychelles, Ascension Island and the Society Islands. It is very widely grown in temperate zones as a houseplant.
Xanthosoma is a genus of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae. The genus is native to tropical America but widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical regions. Several are grown for their starchy corms, an important food staple of tropical regions, known variously as malanga, otoy, otoe, cocoyam, tannia, tannier, yautía, macabo, ocumo, macal, taioba, dasheen, quequisque, ʻape and as Singapore taro. Many other species, including especially Xanthosoma roseum, are used as ornamental plants; in popular horticultural literature these species may be known as ‘ape due to resemblance to the true Polynesian ʻape, Alocasia macrorrhizos, or as elephant ear from visual resemblance of the leaf to an elephant's ear. Sometimes the latter name is also applied to members in the closely related genera Caladium, Colocasia (taro), and Alocasia.
Rhaphidophora is a genus in the family Araceae, occurring from tropical Africa eastwards through Malesia and Australasia to the Western Pacific. The genus consists of approximately 100 species.
Stenospermation is a genus of plant in family Araceae native to South America and Central America.
Monstera adansonii, the Adanson's monstera, Swiss cheese plant, or five holes plant, is a species of flowering plant from family Araceae, which is widespread across much of South America and Central America. Monstera adansonii is classified as a hemiepiphyte vine and can be found in tropical forests with hot and high humidity conditions. Other regions this plant may be found in are the West Indies, Antigua, Grenada, Saba, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Trinidad. Currently, there are four recognized subspecies of Monstera adansonii subsp. adansonii, M. adansonii subsp. blanchetii,M. adansonii subsp. klotzschiana and Monstera adansonii subsp. laniata The species are quite common near river valleys at lower elevations.
Monstera tacanaensis is a species of flowering plant in the genus Monstera of the arum family, Araceae.
Monstera siltepecana is a species of flowering plant in the genus Monstera native to the wet tropical biomes of southern Mexico and Central America. Like other Monstera species, it is a vining plant and as it matures, develops holes in its leaves. Especially in immature foliage, it has distinctive silver venation. The monstera siltepecana is a very fast growing plant along with the other arum family members.
Monstera juliusii is a flowering plant in the family Araceae. It is native to high-altitude cloud forests of Costa Rica at altitudes of 1,600 to 2,250 metres and occasionally confused with Monstera standleyana. However, M. standleyana has green petioles, few fenestrations and thin leaves, while M. juliusii is characterized by mottled white petioles, frequent fenestrations at maturity and thick, leathery leaves. Mature plants have pinnatilobed leaves as long as 60 cm and 30 cm wide, with circular fenestrations close to the margins, and oval fenestrations near the midrib. The species is named after Julius Johnson, son of the artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian.
Monstera monteverdensis is a species of flowering plant in the arum family, Araceae. Its adult form is characterized by pinnatifid margins with up to eight lobes per side, with occasional fenestrations away from the midrib. Leaves can grow as large as 60 cm long and 30 cm wide. It is named after the city of Monteverde, where the species is abundant.
Monstera tuberculata, also called the giant Monstera or the giant velvet-leaf Monstera, is a species of plant in the genus Monstera native from Mexico south to Panama. It grows in lowland wet tropical biomes up to 200 metres (660 ft) in elevation. Similar to Monstera dubia and a few other species in its genus, when young M. tuberculata has a shingle-like growth habit with leaves tightly pressed against the trunks of trees. As it matures, it has short-stemmed, oval leaves that lack the fenestrations of better-known species like Monstera deliciosa. Unusually for an aroid, its fruit hangs like a pendant.
Monstera gambensis is a species of plant in the family Araceae. It is endemic to the tropical forest of La Gamba, Golfito, Costa Rica at 100m elevation. They can be found on the floor of humid forests with their stems climbing up trees and aerial roots visible above the soil. Sometimes the entire plant can be found solely on trees. M. gambensis is typically not fenestrated until the adult stage, but can have two perforations on their blade.
Philodendron opacum is a species of flowering plant. It has a native range extending from Southeast Nicaragua to Ecuador and includes Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama. Its habitat is largely restricted to the Tropical Wet Forest and Premontane Wet Forest life zones in Central America, but in South America extends into Premontane Rain Forest (Colombia) and Tropical Moist Forest (Ecuador).
Monstera gigas is a species of flowering plants in the genus Monstera, of the arum family, Araceae.
