False Monsteriosa, Native Monstera
Epipremnum pinnatum

Family: Araceae

What it is like

An evergreen vine. It climbs to 6 -50 m high. The stem is slender and fibrous but fleshy. The leaves are green and shiny. They are oval or sword shaped. The leaves can be 70 cm long by 40 cm wide and hang downwards. The form a point towards the tip. The leaves are deeply divided, although forms occur with entire leaves. The leaf stalk is about the same length as the leaf. The flowers are dense fleshy spikes. This is 15-20 cm long. The flower is surrounded by a large green boat shaped bract. The flower spikes contain both sexes where the female flowers are lower. These are followed by fruit. The berry is united into a composite red fruit.

There are 15-18 Epipremnum species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows best with warm conditions and high humidity. It is best with light shade. It is damaged by drought and frost. They need good drainage. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, East Timor, Fiji, Hawaii, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

Starch is extracted from the leaf stalk. CAUTION The sap can irritate the skin.

It is used on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu.

Edible parts

Leaf stalk starch, fruit

How it is grown

It is grown from runners which are put in water to form roots. Plants need then to be put in shady humid situations and can be trained to climb up trees. Plants can be grown from fresh seed or from stem cuttings.

In Australia it flowers in December to March.

Its other names

Local names

Devil's ivy, Dragon tail, Ekor naga, Fue laufao, Galgalut, Jalu mampang, Lolo munding, Lolo tali, Pothos, Rawalu, Sulang, Taro vine, Yalu

Synonyms

Epipremnum mirabile Schott.; Monstera dilacerata (K. Koch & Sello) K. Koch; Pothos pinnata Linnaeus; Rhaphidophora pinnata (L.) Schott.; Scindapsus pinnatus Schott; and several others