Ceriman, Windowleaf
Monstera deliciosa

Family: Araceae

What it is like

Native to tropical rainforests of Mexico, Monstera deliciosa or Ceriman is a climbing, flowering shrub commonly grown as an ornamental indoor plant but has delicious, edible fruits. It grows about 20 m high, with aerial roots and large, leathery, glossy, and heart-shaped leaves. It can be propagated by air layering or internal cuttings. The aerial roots are used as ropes and in making baskets. Root infusion is used against arthritis. The whole plant can be toxic when consumed fresh because it contains calcium oxalate crystals which can easily be broken down by thoroughly cooking or fully drying the plant.

Monstera deliciosa is an evergreen Climber growing to 20 m (65ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

An epiphytic vine, growing in the branches of trees in moist or wet, mountain forests at elevations of 900 - 1,500 metres.

C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Central America, China, Costa Rica, East Africa, Guatemala*, Hawaii, India, Mexico*, Mozambique, Nauru, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Taiwan, Tasmania, USA, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. The juicy, subacid fruits have an excellent aroma and taste, combining the flavours of bananas and pineapples. The fruit is eaten raw, made into jellies and jams, and is also used in ice creams, sherbets, soft drinks etc. Some people find the fruit unpleasant to eat because it can contain irritating crystals in the pulp. The fruit is 8 - 12mm long, held in a bunch on a spadix that can be 25cm long. The fruiting spadices become whitish at maturity and very juicy. They are sweet and of good flavour and often are eaten, but care must be taken to eat only fruits that are thoroughly ripe, since immature ones will cause swelling and irritation of the mouth because of needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate found in the tissues or sap.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Other Uses The aerial roots of these plants, as well as those of some other aroids, particularly Philodendron, often attain a great length, reaching from the branches of fairly high trees almost or quite to the ground. They are much used in Guatemala for making the so-called mimbre furniture, similar to the light rattan furniture made commonly in the United States. The dried roots, of uniform diameter, or sometimes the fresh ones, are wound tightly and evenly about a wooden frame, forming handsome and durable articles of furniture. The roots are also used to make strong baskets.

Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Weaving: Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the hot, humid, tropical lowlands, though it can also be found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 28 - 34°c, but can tolerate 18 - 38°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -3°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 2,500mm. Prefers growing in a shady position, but can tolerate a wide range from deep shade to fairly open and sunny. Although it is often an epiphytic plant, it grows very well in the earth - often becoming a pest in fact because of their rapid growth and spread. It prefers a fertile, moist, but well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6, tolerating 5 - 7.5. The plant forms two types of aerial roots from the nodes and internodes of the stems - one type grows down to the ground where it roots and is a source of moisture and nutrients, the other type is an anchor root, growing around the stem of the host plant. Seedling plants can commence bearing fruit when 6 - 8 years old, plants from cuttings when 3 - 4 years old. Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round. Flowering Time: Mid Summer. Bloom Color: Cream/Tan. Spacing: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm).

Propagating it: Seed - must not be allowed to dry out. Air layering. Internodal cuttings. Cuttings made from growing tips with one leaf attached.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals. This substance is toxic fresh and, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if hundreds of small needles are digging in to them. However, calcium oxalate is easily broken down either by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it and, in either of these states, it is safe to eat the plant. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet.(All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction)

Its other names

Local names

Ceriman, Windowleaf, Split-leaf Philodendron, Mexican Breadfruit, Balaco, Balazos, Banana de macaco, Costila de Adan, Cut leafed Philodendron, Fensterblatt, Fruit Salad Plant, Gui bei zhu, Harpon, Mexican breadfruit, Monstera, Monsutera derishioosa, Pinanona monstera, Pinanona, Swiss-cheese plant,

Synonyms

Monstera lennea K.Koch Monstera tacanaensis Matuda Philodendron anatomicum Kunth Tornelia fragrans G