Monstera
| Monstera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Monstera deliciosa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Subfamily: | Monsteroideae |
| Tribe: | Monstereae |
| Genus: | Monstera Adans.[1] |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Monstera is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", and refers to the unusual leaves with natural holes that members of the genus have.[2]
They are herbs or evergreen vines, growing to heights of 20 metres (66 ft) 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 centimetres (9.8–35.4 in) long (up to 130 centimetres (51 in) long in M. dubia) and 15–75 centimetres (5.9–29.5 in) broad, often with holes in the leaf blade. The flowers are borne on a specialised inflorescence called a spadix, 5–45 centimetres (2.0–17.7 in) 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.
Selected species
- Monstera acuminata – Shingle Plant
- Monstera adansonii Schott
- Monstera deliciosa Liebm. – Ceriman, Swiss-cheese Plant
- Monstera dilacerata K.Koch
- Monstera dubia (Kunth) Engl. & K.Krause
- Monstera epipremnoides
- Monstera friedrichsthalii
- Monstera karwinskyi
- Monstera obliqua Miq.
- Monstera punctulata
- Monstera standleyana
- Monstera subpinnata[3]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monstera. |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Monstera |
- ↑ "Genus: Monstera Adans.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ↑ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. 3 M-Q. CRC Press. p. 1723. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6.
- ↑ "GRIN Species Records of Monstera". Germplasm Resources Information Network. USDA. Retrieved January 1, 2013.