Shade tolerance as "Monstera deliciosa" and a number of other members of the family Araceae, such as members of the genus "Philodendron", initially grow "away" from light; this is a dramatic example of sciophilous growth, which helps them locate a tree trunk, which they then climb to regions of brighter light. The upper shoots and leaves of such a Philodendron grow as typical light-loving, "photophilic" plants once they break out into full sunshine. In forests where rainfall is plentiful and water is not the limiting factor to growth, shade tolerance is one of the most important factors characterizing tree species. However, different
Monstera acuminata Monstera acuminata Monstera acuminata, or shingle plant, is a species of flowering plant from Araceae family which is widespread from Mexico to Central America. It is abundant in central Petén and extends north to San Luis Potosí, making it the northernmost of the species of "Monstera." "Monstera acuminata" germinates in the ground and grows horizontally as a low prostrate herb. The juvenile plant is much smaller and heart-shaped with thick, roundish, waxy leaves which grow in two ranks and overlap each other with the stem elliptic in cross section and internodes 1–5 cm long and asymmetric leaves. When it encounters