Monstera is considered a hemiepiphyte. The leaves are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from long (up to long in "M. dubia") and broad, often with holes in the leaf blade. The flowers are borne on a specialised inflorescence called a spadix, 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 tastes like a combination of banana and pineapple. "The Plant List" recognises 48 accepted taxa (of species and infraspecific names): Previously included: Monstera
Monstera deliciosa of ripening by its bottommost scales becoming yellowed. As it ripens, the starch that was stored in the green fruit is converted to sugar, giving it its sweet flavor. This mechanism is comparable to how banana fruits ripen. The strong odor the fruit produces becomes noticeable when it is half-ripe. As time passes and the fruit continues to ripen, the odor becomes stronger. After it becomes fully ripe, however, the scent deteriorates quickly. The fruit may be ripened by cutting it when the first scales begin to lift up and it begins to exude a pungent odor. It is wrapped