Monstera deliciosa
the Swiss cheese plant
The specific epithet deliciosa means "delicious", referring to the edible
fruit, while monstera means "monstrous", in reference to the size that
this plant can grow to, over 9 m (30 ft) in many cases. Its popular name
as a houseplant of "Swiss cheese plant", or just "cheese plant", is
commonly stated to refer to the "eyes" or holes which develop in its
leaves similar to the holes in some Swiss-type cheeses such as Emmental
cheese.
This member of the arum family Araceae is an epiphyte with aerial roots,
able to grow up to 20 m (66 ft) high in the wild, with large, leathery,
glossy, heart-shaped leaves 25–90 cm (10–35.5 in) long by 25–75 cm
(10–29.5 in) broad. The leaves on young plants are smaller and entire with
no lobes or holes, but soon produce lobed and fenestrate leaves as they
grow. Although it can grow very tall in nature, it only measures between 2
and 3 m (6.6 and 9.8 ft) when grown indoors. The leaves are large (up to 1
m or 3.3 ft long), heart-shaped and pinnate. The older the plant, the more
the leaves are covered with its familiar large perforations.
Learn more on Wikipedia!
Or visit your local plant store.
Coded by Emily Miles