What plant abandons the soil to live in the canopy?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

January 24, 2002

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The split-leaf or windowpane (Monstera deliciosa Liebmann) is a plant with great forbearance. Often given when a new office is dedicated, the plant is left to lurk in a dark (to a plant) corner or forgotten at the end of a hallway. Starved for sunlight, its color deepens as it produces more and more chlorophyll to capture the few useable photons.

Plant of the Week 12/27/2004

Split-leaf (Monstera deliciosa) Plant of the Week 12/27/2004

The wild Monstera live in the rainforests of tropical America. The seeds are shed from the parent, falling from the heights of the canopy. Once on the ground, the seeds germinate within a day or two.

The initial shoot is not recognizable as a shoot, but looks like a green root. It will run across the forest floor, but it runs away from the light, seeking the shade. The only energy this green shoot has is what was stored in the seed. It has been reported that if the shoot does not find a vertical surface within 6 feet of where it germinated, the plant runs out of energy and dies.

When the shoot reaches a vertical surface, it grows two small leaves and begins vining, climbing toward the light. The cordate (heart-shaped) leaves first grow appressed to the surface it is climbing. As the vine climbs, the new leaves grow much larger and stand away from the surface offset from each other. The alternate arrangement prevents the upper leaves from shading the lower leaves.

The leaf blades will split or grow holes. The function of this 'self-tattered' leaf is not known, but perhaps it lets more light to the leaves below or reduces the force of the wind.

If no accidents occur to the Monstera, it will change its lifestyle, letting go all connections to the soil. The lower vine will die and the plant will live vining through the canopy as an epiphyte.

Raintree has a photograph of Monstera deliciosa flowering. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.rain-tree.com/Plant-Images/monstera-pic.htm

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Suggested Reading:

What plant is a penthouse in the canopy? Renfield's Garden - January 23, 2002
What hardwood tree has no growth rings? Weird Plants - July 11, 2002
Humans or bats, who made chicle a dominant species? Renfield's Garden - July 10, 2002
What plant is kept forever young? Weird Plants - August 8, 2002

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