Monstera deliciosa (Araceae)

Monstera deliciosa "is rather common in Hawaii. It is one of the largest taro vines and has thick, heart-shaped leaves, as much as 2 to 3 feet long. They are perforated and lobed when mature, and have stems as long as 3 feet. The woody stem of the vine scrables over the ground or climbs high on supports and lets down stringy roots, which may or may not reach the ground. It thrives in shade.*" (Neal, 1965) (*Staples & Herbst [2005] state: "These plants prefer areas with abundant light, such as forest margins, open areas in forest, or the upper canopy.")  "The vine is well known for its edible, long, cone-shaped fruits, about 8 by 2 inches, which are made up of numerous cohering berries having a flavor like a mixture of banana and pineapple. A yellow-green, violet-spotted rind of hexagonal plates covers a creamy-white, soft pulp, which is delicion when ripe. When green it contains some calcium oxalate crystals, irritation to mouth and throat. The numerous flowers in a spike are perfect except for a few sterile ones near the base. At first the spike is enclosed in a white bract, which soon falls off. Four other species of Monstera, with heart-shaped or ovate, somewhat overlapping leaves are cultivated in Hawaii. The youngest leaves of all five species are entire." (Neal, 1965) "Several genera of woody taro vines (Monstera, Rhaphidophora, Scindapsus, Epipremnum, and Philodendron) include species that are much alike in general appearance. Their flowers differ in microscopic details; but as many species do not flower in cultivation, much confusion in naming them results. The leaves, however, vary enough to distinguish the plants. Of nearly 30* species of Monstera known from tropical America, one (M. deliciosa Liebm.) is rather common in Hawaii." (Neal, 1965) (*Staples & Herbst [2005] say: "Monstera contains about 60 species native from Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia."  Monstera deliciosa is native to tropical America. 

Species description or overview

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Monstera deliciosa information from ITIS
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Monstera deliciosa, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

IPNI nomenclature info for Monstera deliciosa
Nomenclatural information about Monstera deliciosa is provided by The International Plant Names Index (IPNI).

Risk assessments

Images

Full-text articles

Assessing the risks of plant invasions arising from collections in tropical botanical gardens
Dawson, Wayne, Ahmed S. Mndolwa, David F. R. P. Burslem, and Philip E. Hulme. 2008. Assessing the risks of plant invasions arising from collections in tropical botanical gardens. Biodiversity Conservation. Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.

Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants on Midway Atoll, Hawaii.
Starr, F., K. Starr, and Loope L. 2006. Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants on Midway Atoll, Hawaii. An addendum to the 1999 Botanical Survey of Midway Atoll.

Botanical survey of Midway Atoll
Starr, F. and K. Martz. 1999. Botanical survey of Midway Atoll. In: 1995-1999 Baseline Surveys for Alien Species in Marine and Terrestrial Habitats on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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The content of this page is based on information last generated on 16 October 2017 by PT. The template for this page was created on 15 March 2004 by EMS, and was last updated on 20 February 2006 by PT.