''Monstera'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of 59 species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the arum family,

Araceae 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 (or leaf-like bract). Also ...

, native to tropical regions of central and south America.

Etymology

The genus is named from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

with natural holes, or fenestrations (slits) and perforations (holes), that most members of the genus have.

Description

Growth pattern

They are

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

vine A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; Benjamin; Da ...

s, growing to heights of in trees, climbing by means of

aerial root Aerial roots are Root, roots growing above the ground. They are often Plant development#Adventitious structures, adventitious, i.e. formed from nonroot tissue. They are found in diverse plant species, including epiphytes such as orchids ('' ...

s 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

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 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. Monstera lechleriana

Inflorescence

The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are borne on a specialized

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

called a spadix, long; the fruit is a cluster of

berries A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone fruit, stone or pit (fruit), pit although many wikt:pip#Etymology 2, pips or seeds may be p ...

, with significant variation in color, edible in some species. MonsteraAdansonii

Uses

They are commonly grown indoors as

houseplant A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...

s. The best-known representative of the genus, ''

Monstera deliciosa ''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 invas ...

'', is also cultivated for its edible fruit which tastes like a combination of peach and pineapple.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

'' recognizes 70 accepted

taxa In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...

(of 64 species and 6 infraspecific names): * '' Monstera acacoyaguensis'' * '' Monstera acuminata'' – Shingle plant * ''

Monstera adansonii ''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 classifi ...

'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''adansonii'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''blanchetii'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''klotzschiana'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''laniata'' * ''

Monstera alcirana ''Monstera alcirana'' is a species of plant in the family ''Araceae''. It was named after Alcira Pérez de Gómez, a Venezuelan biologist. Monstera alcirana is endemic to the provinces of Coclé, Panamá, Colón and Veraguas in Panama Pan ...

'' * ''

Monstera alfaroi ''Monstera alfaroi'' is a flowering plant in the arum family. It is endemic to mid-altitude premontane rainforests of Costa Rica at altitudes of . ''M. alfaroi'' features light brown petioles with black or white warts. It is closely related to ...

'' * '' Monstera amargalensis'' * '' Monstera anomala'' * '' Monstera aureopinnata'' * '' Monstera barrieri'' * '' Monstera bocatorensis'' * '' Monstera boliviana'' * '' Monstera buseyi'' * '' Monstera cenepensis'' * '' Monstera costaricensis'' * '' Monstera croatii'' * ''

'' – 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'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants 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 ...

'' * '' 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 ''Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum'' (common names: split-leaf philodendron, lacy tree philodendron, selloum, horsehead philodendron, guaimbé) is a plant in the genus ''Thaumatophyllum'', in the family Araceae. Previously it was classified in the ...

References

External links

Aroid Society
{{Taxonbar, from=Q159216 Araceae genera Taxa named by Michel Adanson