| Monstera | |
|---|---|
| Monstera deliciosa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Subfamily: | Monsteroideae |
| Tribe: | Monstereae |
| Genus: | Monstera Adans. |
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
Monstera is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", the members of the genus are distinguished by their unusual leaves with natural holes.
They are herbs or evergreen vines, growing to heights of 20 m 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. The leaves are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from 25-90 cm long (up to 130 cm long in M. dubia) and 15-75 cm broad, often with holes in the leaf blade. The flowers are borne on a specialised inflorescence called a spadix, 5-45 cm long; the fruit is a cluster of white berries, edible in some species.
They are commonly grown indoors as houseplants. The best-known representative of the genus, Monstera deliciosa, is also cultivated for its edible fruit which taste like a combination of banana and pineapple.