Monstera
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
Monstera is a genus of 59 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of central and south America.[1]
Etymology
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 perforations (holes), that most members of the genus have.[2]
Description
Growth pattern
They are evergreen vines, growing to heights of Template:Convert 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.[3] Aerial roots hanging directly to the ground have, according to Madison, measured up to one hundred feet (thirty meters) in height.[4][5]
Leaves
The leaves are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from Template:Convert long (up to Template:Convert long in M. gigas) and Template:Convert 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.[6]
Inflorescence
The flowers are borne on a specialized inflorescence called a spadix, Template:Convert long; the fruit is a cluster of berries, with significant variation in color, edible in some species.
Uses
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.
Species
Template:As of Plants of the World Online recognizes 70 accepted taxa (of 64 species and 6 infraspecific names):[1][7] Template:Div col
- Monstera acacoyaguensis Template:Au
- Monstera acuminata Template:Au – Shingle plant
- Monstera adansonii Template:Au
- Monstera adansonii subsp. adansonii Template:Au
- Monstera adansonii subsp. blanchetii Template:Au
- Monstera adansonii subsp. klotzschiana Template:Au
- Monstera adansonii subsp. laniata Template:Au
- Monstera alcirana Template:Au
- Monstera alfaroi Template:Au
- Monstera amargalensis Template:Au
- Monstera anomala Template:Au
- Monstera aureopinnata Template:Au
- Monstera barrieri Template:Au
- Monstera bocatorensis Template:Au
- Monstera boliviana Template:Au
- Monstera buseyi Template:Au
- Monstera cenepensis Template:Au
- Monstera costaricensis Template:Au
- Monstera croatii Template:Au
- Monstera deliciosa Template:Au – Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant
- Monstera dissecta Template:Au
- Monstera donosoensis Template:Au
- Monstera dubia Template:Au
- Monstera egregia Template:Au
- Monstera epipremnoides Template:Au
- Monstera filamentosa Template:Au
- Monstera florescanoana Template:Au
- Monstera gambensis Template:Au
- Monstera gentryi Template:Au
- Monstera gigas Template:Au
- Monstera glaucescens Template:Au
- Monstera gracilis Template:Au
- Monstera guzmanjacobiae Template:Au
- Monstera integrifolia Template:Au
- Monstera juliusii Template:Au
- Monstera kessleri Template:Au
- Monstera kikiae Template:Au
- Monstera kessleri Template:Au
- Monstera lechleriana Template:Au
- Monstera lentii Template:Au
- Monstera limitaris Template:Au
- Monstera luteynii Template:Au
- Monstera maderaverde Template:Au
- Monstera membranacea Template:Au
- Monstera minima Template:Au
- Monstera mittermeieri Template:Au
- Monstera molinae Template:Au
- Monstera momoi Template:Au
- Monstera monteverdensis Template:Au
- Monstera obliqua Template:Au
- Monstera oreophila Template:Au
- Monstera pinnatipartita Template:Au
- Monstera pittieri Template:Au
- Monstera planadensis Template:Au
- Monstera praetermissa Template:Au
- Monstera punctulata Template:Au
- Monstera siltepecana Template:Au
- Monstera spruceana Template:Au
- Monstera standleyana Template:Au
- Monstera subpinnata Template:Au
- Monstera tablasensis Template:Au
- Monstera tacanaensis Template:Au
- Monstera tarrazuensis Template:Au
- Monstera tenuis Template:Au
- Monstera titanum Template:Au
- Monstera tuberculata Template:Au
- Monstera tuberculata var. brevinoda Template:Au
- Monstera tuberculata var. tuberculata
- Monstera vasquezii Template:Au
- Monstera wilsoniensis Template:Au
- Monstera xanthospatha Template:Au
Previously included:Template:ClarifyScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Monstera alticola Template:Au
- Monstera bocatorana Template:Au
- Monstera coloradensis Template:Au
- Monstera fortunense Template:Au
- Monstera gigantea (Roxb.) Schott - Epipremnum giganteum (Roxb.) Schott
- Monstera jefense Template:Au
- Monstera pirrense Template:Au
Commonly misidentified as Monstera:
References
Template:Commonscat Template:Sister project Template:Reflist
External links
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