''Monstera'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of 59 species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

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). ...

, native to tropical regions of the Americas.

Etymology

The genus is named from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leaves with natural holes that members of the genus have.

Description

Growth pattern

They are herbs or

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

vine A vine ( Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") 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 thems ...

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

aerial root Aerial roots are roots above the ground. They are almost always adventitious. They are found in diverse plant species, including epiphytes such as orchids (''Orchidaceae''), tropical coastal swamp trees such as mangroves, banyan figs ('' ...

s which act as hooks over branches; these roots will also grow into the soil to help support the plant. Since the plant roots both into the soil and over trees, it is considered a

hemiepiphyte A hemiepiphyte is a plant that spends part of its life cycle as an epiphyte. The seeds of primary hemiepiphytes germinate in the canopy and initially live epiphytically. They send roots downward, and these roots eventually make contact with t ...

Leaves

The leaves are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from long (up to long in ''M. dubia'') 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.

Inflorescence

The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

s are borne on a specialised

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

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

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 or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, rasp ...

, edible in some species. MonsteraAdansonii

Uses

They are commonly grown indoors as

houseplant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...

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 ...

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

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants ...

'' recognises 59 accepted

taxa In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural 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 n ...

(of 49 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. Besides South American countri ...

'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''adansonii'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''blanchetii'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''klotzschiana'' ** ''Monstera adansonii'' subsp. ''laniata'' * '' Monstera alcirana'' * '' Monstera amargalensis'' * '' Monstera anomala'' * '' Monstera aureopinnata'' * '' Monstera barrieri'' * ''

Monstera boliviana ''Monstera boliviana'' is a flowering plant belonging to genus '' Monstera'' of family Araceae. Distribution It is native to Bolivia and Peru. References boliviana {{Improve categories, date=March 2022 ...

'' * ''

Monstera buseyi ''Monstera buseyi'' is a flowering plant in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The pu ...

'' * '' Monstera cenepensis'' * ''

Monstera costaricensis ''Monstera costarisensis'' is a flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' and family Araceae. Distribution It is native to Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, Repúbli ...

'' * ''

Monstera croatii ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual le ...

'' * ''

'' – Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant * '' Monstera dissecta'' * '' Monstera dubia'' * ''

Monstera egregia ''Monstera egregia'' is a flowering plant belonging to genus '' Monstera'' of family Araceae. Distribution It is native from Central and S. Mexico to Belize. References egregia ''Egregia menziesii'' is a species of kelp known co ...

'' * ''

Monstera epipremnoides ''Monstera epipremnoides'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae, endemic to Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in t ...

'' * ''

Monstera filamentosa ''Monstera filamentosa'' is a flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' and family Araceae. It is known for its highly fenestrated leaves. Distribution It is native to Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the ...

'' * ''

Monstera florescanoana ''Monstera florescanoana'' is a flowering plant in genus '' Monstera'' and family Araceae. Distribution It is native to Mexico ( Veracruz). References florescanoana Flora of Mexico {{Araceae-stub ...

'' * ''

Monstera gambensis ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * ''

Monstera Gentryi ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual le ...

'' * '' Monstera glaucescens'' * '' Monstera gracilis'' * ''

Monstera guzmanjacobiae ''Monstera guzmanjacobiae'' is a species of plant in the family Araceae from Mexico. Distribution It is endemic to the Los Tuxtlas region in Veracruz, Mexico. Description ''Monstera guzmanjacobiae'' is a hemi- epiphytic herb that can reac ...

'' * ''

Monstera integrifolia ''Monstera integrifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' in the arum family, Araceae. Distribution Its native range is Costa Rica to Panama. References integrifolia {{Araceae-stub ...

'' * ''

Monstera juliusii ''Monstera juliusii'' is a flowering plant in the arum family ( Araceae). It is native to high-altitude cloud forests of Costa Rica at altitudes of and occasionally confused with '' Monstera standleyana''. However, ''M. standleyana'' has green ...

'' * ''

Monstera kikiae ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * ''

Monstera kessleri ''Monstera kessleri'' is a flowering plant in genus ''Monstera'' of the arum family Araceae. Distribution It is native to Bolivia. References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q11785285 Monstera, kessleri Plants described in 2005 Flora of Bolivia ...

'' * ''

Monstera lechleriana ''Monstera lechleriana'' is a flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' in the arum family, '' Araceae.'' It is native to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá, Peru, and Venezuela. The species is named for the German botanist Willibald Lechler, ...

'' * '' Monstera lentii'' * ''

Monstera limitaris ''Monstera limitaris'' is a flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' of the arum family ( Araceae). Distribution It is Native to Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, Rep ...

'' * ''

Monstera luteynii ''Monstera luteynii'' is a species of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('contain ...

'' * ''

Monstera maderaverde ''Monstera maderaverde'' is a species of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('cont ...

'' * '' 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 the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * ''

Monstera molinae ''Monstera molinae'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' in the arum family, Araceae. Distribution Its native range is Costa Rica to Central Panama. References molinae {{Improve categories, date=May 202 ...

'' * '' Monstera momoi'' * '' Monstera monteverdensis'' * ''

Monstera obliqua ''Monstera obliqua'' is a species of the genus '' Monstera'' native to Central and South America. It is hemiepiphytic like most other Monstera species. The plant is particularly known for its foliage, which is often highly perforated, sometimes ...

'' * '' Monstera oreophila'' * ''

Monstera pinnatipartita ''Monstera pinnatipartita'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' native to Central America and the tropical areas of South America. Like the more common ''Monstera deliciosa ''Monstera deliciosa'', the Swiss cheese plant ...

'' * ''

Monstera pittieri ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * '' Monstera planadensis'' * ''

Monstera praetermissa ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * ''

Monstera punctulata ''Monstera punctulata'' is a species of flowering plant from the family Araceae found in the southern part of Mexico and in Central America. Description The species is tall. Juvenile have a flattened stem, while adult stem is brown in colour a ...

'' * ''

Monstera siltepecana ''Monstera siltepecana'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' native to the wet tropical biomes of southern Mexico and Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its ...

'' * ''

Monstera spruceana ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual le ...

'' * ''

Monstera standleyana ''Monstera standleyana'', the five holes plant is a species of flowering plant from family Araceae which can be found in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panam ...

'' * ''

Monstera subpinnata ''Monstera subpinnata'' is a species of flowering plant native to Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. It grows as an epiphyte. The plant is best known for its pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or mul ...

'' * ''

Monstera tacanaensis ''Monstera tacanaensis '' is a species of flowering plant in the genus '' Monstera'' of the arum family, Araceae. Classification ''Monstera tacanaensis'' was treated as a synonym of ''Monstera deliciosa'', however it is a closely related but d ...

'' * '' Monstera tarrazuensis'' * ''

Monstera tenuis ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leaf, ...

'' * ''

Monstera tuberculata ''Monstera tuberculata'' is a species of plant in the genus '' Monstera'' native from Mexico south to Panama. It grows in lowland wet tropical biomes up to in elevation. Similar to '' Monstera dubia'' and a few other species in its genus, when ...

'' ** Monstera tuberculata var. brevinoda ** Monstera tuberculata var. tuberculata * ''

Monstera vasquezii ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual le ...

'' * ''

Monstera wilsoniensis ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual le ...

'' * ''

Monstera xanthospatha ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual le ...

Previously included: * '' Monstera alticola'' * ''

Monstera bocatorana ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * ''

Monstera coloradensis ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * '' Monstera fortunense'' * '' Monstera gigantea'' (Roxb.) Schott - '' Epipremnum giganteum'' (Roxb.) Schott * ''

Monstera jefense ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' * ''

Monstera pirrense ''Monstera'' is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leave ...

'' Commonly misidentified as ''Monstera'': * '' Rhaphidophora tetrasperma'' * ''

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

References

External links

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