''Monstera'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of 59 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 ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

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 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 of the ...

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

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

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 themselv ...

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 ('' F ...

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

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 mechani ...

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 o ...

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, raspb ...

, 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 invas ...

'', 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 by ...

'' 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 nam ...

(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 countries i ...

'' ** ''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 buseyi'' * '' Monstera cenepensis'' * '' Monstera costaricensis'' * '' Monstera croatii'' * ''

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

Monstera dubia ''Monstera dubia'' is a species of plant in the genus ''Monstera'' native to Central and South America. ''M. dubia'' is known for the dramatic transformation its foliage makes as it climbs from seed stage on the forest floor, to shingling closel ...

'' * '' Monstera egregia'' * '' Monstera epipremnoides'' * '' Monstera filamentosa'' * '' Monstera florescanoana'' * '' Monstera gambensis'' * '' Monstera Gentryi'' * '' Monstera glaucescens'' * '' Monstera gracilis'' * '' Monstera guzmanjacobiae'' * '' Monstera integrifolia'' * '' Monstera juliusii'' * '' 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 tacanaensis'' * '' Monstera tarrazuensis'' * '' Monstera tenuis'' * '' Monstera tuberculata'' ** Monstera tuberculata var. brevinoda ** Monstera tuberculata var. tuberculata * '' Monstera vasquezii'' * '' Monstera wilsoniensis'' * '' Monstera xanthospatha'' Monstera under HortiPower grow light

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''

References

External links

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