Monstera spruceana
Monstera spruceana (Schott) Engl.
Monstera spruceana is a climbing plant in the Araceae family, native to Central and South America from Costa Rica to Bolivia. It is named after Richard Spruce. Juvenile plants exhibit a shingling growth habit, while adult plants have pinnatifid leaves, sometimes only on one side. The species is similar to Monstera subpinnata and Monstera dilacerata. It is used in traditional medicine by the Shuar and Kichwa peoples.
Description
Monstera spruceana is a climber reaching up to 5 m tall. Juveniles grow as shingle plants. Adult stems are smooth or slightly tuberculate, subterete, with 4–10 cm long internodes. Petioles are 25–40 cm long, with disintegrating sheath wings and a geniculum of 5–8 cm. The lamina is dull dark green, coriaceous, oblong-ovate, and pinnatifid with 4–10 pinnae per side, each 5–12 cm wide. The peduncle is stout, 8–13 cm long, and the spathe is white, cylindrical, 12–25 cm long. The fruiting spadix is white, 16–36 cm long. The plant is found in several protected areas and regions across Central and South America.
Distribution
BR · Parque Nacional Natutral de Amacayacu | Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis | Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas | Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza | Parque Nacional Natural Tinigua | Parque Nacional Natural Utría | Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona · Amazonas, Antioquia, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Meta, Tolima, Valle, Vaupés · Departamentos del Caquetá y Guaviare: Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete · Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete (PNNSCh) · Bolivia · Brazil North · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · French Guiana · Guyana · Panamá · Peru · Suriname · Venezuela · Barrancabermeja | Leticia | Villavicencio
Synonyms
Monstera steyermarkiiTornelia spruceana