''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 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 th ...

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 acacoyaguensis'' is a flowering plant in the family Araceae and the genus ''Monstera,'' section Monstera. its native range is Mexico (Chiapas) to Belize, at altitudes below 200 meters (656 ft). As an adult, it grows as an epiphyte. Juv ...

'' * ''

Monstera acuminata ''Monstera acuminata'', or shingle plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae which is widespread from Mexico to Central America. It is abundant in central Petén and extends north to San Luis Potosí, making it the northernmos ...

'' – 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 amargalensis'' is a flowering plant that belongs to the genus ''Monstera'', and the family Araceae. Distribution Its native range is Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in S ...

'' * '' Monstera anomala'' * ''

Monstera aureopinnata ''Monstera aureopinnata'' is a flowering plant in genus ''Monstera'' of family Araceae. It is an epiphyte. Distribution It is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South Ame ...

'' * ''

Monstera barrieri ''Monstera barrieri'' is a flowering plant of the genus ''Monstera'' and family Araceae. Distribution It is native to French Guiana. Description It is a hemiepiphyte up to 10 meters in trees. Adult plants have an asymmetrical stem with diam ...

'' * '' Monstera bocatorensis'' * '' Monstera boliviana'' * ''

Monstera buseyi ''Monstera buseyi'' is a flowering plant in the 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 som ...

'' * ''

Monstera cenepensis ''Monstera cenepensis'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Araceae. Description Hemiepiphytic with short internodes of 1.2 cm diam. Petioles are 48 cm long. Blades ovate Ovate may refer to: * Ovate (egg-shaped) leaves, tepals, o ...

'' * ''

Monstera costaricensis ''Monstera costarisensis'' is a flowering plant in the genus ''Monstera'' and family Araceae. Distribution It is native to Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicara ...

'' * '' Monstera croatii'' * ''

'' – Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant * '' Monstera dissecta'' * '' Monstera donosoensis'' * '' 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 Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bord ...

'' * '' Monstera epipremnoides'' * ''

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 Republ ...

'' * '' Monstera florescanoana'' * ''

Monstera gambensis ''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 elevation. They can be found on the floor of humid forests with their stems climbing up trees and aeri ...

'' * '' Monstera gentryi'' * ''

Monstera gigas ''Monstera gigas'' is a species of flowering plants in the genus ''Monstera'', of the arum family, Araceae. Distribution It is native to Panama. References

Monstera, gigas Endemic flora of Panama Plants described in 2021 {{Araceae-stu ...

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

Monstera gracilis ''Monstera gracilis'' is a flowering plant in family Araceae. Description ''Monstera gracilis'' is a species of climbing flowering plant native to eastern Colombia. Unlike many other ''Monstera'' species, it does not climb to significant heig ...

'' * ''

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 An epiphyte is a pla ...

'' * ''

Monstera integrifolia ''Monstera integrifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Monstera'' 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 spad ...

'' * '' Monstera juliusii'' * '' Monstera kessleri'' * ''

Monstera kikiae ''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 kessleri'' * ''

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, wh ...

'' * ''

Monstera lentii ''Monstera lentii'' is a flowering plant in the genus ''Monstera'' in the arum family, Araceae. Distribution It is native to Costa Rica, and Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern ...

'' * ''

Monstera limitaris ''Monstera limitaris'' is a flowering plant in the genus ''Monstera'' of the arum family (Araceae). Distribution It is Native to Costa Rica and Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the south ...

'' * ''

Monstera luteynii ''Monstera luteynii'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Monstera'' of the arum family, Araceae. Distribution Its native range is Costa Rica. References

Monstera, luteynii Flora of Costa Rica {{Araceae-stub ...

'' * '' 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'' 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 monteverdensis'' * '' Monstera obliqua'' * ''

Monstera oreophila ''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 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'' the plant has green foliage that becomes highly ...

'' * ''

Monstera pittieri ''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 planadensis'' * '' Monstera praetermissa'' * ''

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 an ...

'' * ''

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. Like other ''Monstera'' species, it is a vining plant and as it matures, develops holes i ...

'' * ''

Monstera spruceana ''Monstera spruceana'' is a species of plant in the genus ''Monstera'' native to Central and South America from Costa Rica to Bolivia. Named after Richard Spruce, ''Monstera spruceana'' is a climbing plant that as a juvenile has a shingling gro ...

'' * ''

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, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America a ...

'' * ''

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 leaves, which are unusual within the genus ''Monstera ''Monstera'' is a ge ...

'' * ''

Monstera tablasensis ''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 tacanaensis'' * ''

Monstera tarrazuensis ''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 tenuis'' * ''

Monstera titanum ''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 tuberculata ''Monstera tuberculata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family ''Araceae''. It is sometimes referred to by the common names giant Monstera or giant velvet-leaf Monstera. It is native to Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Southeast and Southwe ...

'' ** 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 central and south America. Etymology The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the ...

'' * ''

Monstera wilsoniensis ''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 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