Ceriman, Monsteria
Monstera deliciosa

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A woody climber with large leaves with natural holes. It attaches itself to trees by roots at the nodes and climbs up to 15-20 m high. The stem is stout and crooked. The have a few branches. The leaves are glossy green. The leaves are divided around the edge. The leaves are 30-90 cm across. Young leaves are usually on shorter stalks, smaller and entire. The flowers are lily like and green. It has long (20-40 cm) cone like fruit.

There are about 40-60 Monstera species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It does best in rich, moist, well-drained soils. It suits a protected, shady position. It bears fruit between 700 m and 2300 m altitude in the equatorial tropics but the plant grows down to the coast. It is damaged by drought and frost. Seed need to be sown at a temperature between 18-24°C. The plant needs a temperature above 15°C. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Central America, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala (country/location of origin), Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico (country/location of origin), Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Taiwan, Tasmania, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, USA, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is edible. The fruit are encouraged to ripen evenly by putting in a paper bag in a fridge for 24 hours then ripening at room temperature. The very ripe fruit are eaten. The fruit pulp can be strained and used as a drink. CAUTION The unripe fruit have irritant crystals which sting the mouth.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is easily propagated by cuttings. Stem cuttings with one or two nodes or eyes are used. These are placed horizontally in potting mix. Putting these in a warm place with bright light but not direct sunlight quickens rooting. It should have a trellis, tree or wall to climb against. Plants can be grown from seed. Fruit can be ripened evenly by cutting them as soon as the base starts to ripen then wrapping them in paper for few days.

Plants grown from seeds take 6 years to fruit. The fruit take about a year to mature after flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Balaco, Balazos, Banana de macaco, Costila de Adan, Cut leafed Philodendron, Fensterblatt, Fruit Salad Plant, Gui bei zhu, Harpon, Karchena, Makhna, Mexican breadfruit, Monstera, Monstera sedap, Monsutera derishioosa, Pinanona monstera, Pinanona, Swiss-cheese plant

Synonyms

Monsteria lennea C. Koch; Philodendron pertusum Kunth & C. D. Bouche;