Monstera tenuis
Monstera tenuis K.Koch
Monstera tenuis is a climbing plant in the Araceae family, native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. It can grow up to 30 meters tall, with juvenile leaves nearly round and adult leaves oblong-ovate, deeply pinnatifid. The plant produces white flowers and yellow fruits at maturity. The species name refers to the thin juvenile leaves.
Description
Monstera tenuis is a robust climber that grows on large trees in wet tropical habitats below 1,600 meters. It has a juvenile stage where the leaves are nearly round and mucronate at the apex, transitioning to adult leaves that are oblong-ovate, truncate at the base, and deeply pinnatifid. The petiole is 30–60 cm long, and the lamina is 60–125 cm long and 45–70 cm wide. The plant has a smooth adult stem, 6–8 cm wide, with persistent petiole sheaths. The spadix is white when flowering and green to yellow when fruiting, with oblong seeds. The species was first described in 1855 by K.Koch and is distinguished by its juvenile leaf morphology, which gives it its name.
Distribution
Costa Rica · Nicaragua · Panamá
Synonyms
Monstera gigantea