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 seeds fall to the ground, then the seedlings crawl (negative phototropism) until they meet a tree on which to attach. The many adjacent roots thus allow the plant to anchor against its new support and reach the canopy light (although it rarely grows in full sun and prefers a light dimmed by the foliage). Wild plants can also be found in North America (Florida), Asia (Malaysia, India), Australia and the western Mediterranean (Portugal, Morocco, Madeira). The plant requires a lot of space and a rich and loose soil (ideally garden soil and compost in equal parts). If it grows in