Monstera adansonii

Monstera adansonii, the Adanson's monstera,^[2] Swiss cheese plant,^[3] or five holes plant, is a species of flowering plant from family Araceae, which is widespread across much of South America and Central America.^[4] Monstera adansonii is classified as a hemiepiphyte vine and can be found in tropical forests with hot and high humidity conditions.^[5]

Monstera adansonii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Genus:	Monstera
Species:	M. adansonii
Binomial name
Monstera adansonii Schott
Synonyms[1]
Monstera pertusa (L.) de Vriese Dracontium pertusum L. Calla dracontium G.Mey. Calla pertusa (L.) Kunth Philodendron pertusum (L.) K.Koch & C.D.Bouché

The common name "Swiss cheese plant" is also used for the also very often cultivated species Monstera deliciosa.^[3]

Description

In pot

Monstera adansonii is known for its heart-shaped leaves. The leaves have a somewhat thick, waxy texture, and contain large, oval-shaped perforations, which led to its common name of "Swiss cheese plant". It grows to be 3–5 feet (0.9–2 m) tall as a houseplant, and up to 13 feet (4.0 m) as a vine. The Adanson's monstera is an easy to care for houseplant that likes bright, indirect sunlight, and well draining soil.^[6][7] There are some cultivars with variegated leaves, including 'Archipelago'.^[8]

Currently, there are four recognized subspecies: Monstera adansonii subsp. adansonii, M. adansonii subsp. blanchetii, M. adansonii subsp. klotzschiana and M. adansonii subsp. laniata.^[9]

Distribution

Other regions this plant may be found in are the West Indies, Antigua, Grenada, Saba, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Trinidad. The species are quite common near river valleys at lower elevations.^[10]