Thursday 1 March 2012

MONSTERA DELICIOSA

Monstera deliciosa is a creeping vine native to tropical rainforests of southern Mexico south to Colombia. Common names include Ceriman, Swiss Cheese Plant, Fruit Salad Plant and Penglai Banana.  This member of the Arum family is an epiphyte with aerial roots, able to grow up to 20 m high with large, leathery, glossy, heart-shaped leaves 25–90 cm long by 25–75 cm broad.

The fruit is up to 25 cm long and 3–4 cm diameter, looking like a green ear of maize covered with hexagonal scales.  The fruit may be ripened by cutting it when the first scales begin to lift up and it begins to exude a pungent odour. It is wrapped in a paper bag and set aside until the scales begin popping off. The scales are then brushed off or fall away to reveal the edible flesh underneath. The flesh, which is similar to pineapple in texture, can be cut away from the core and eaten. It has a fruity taste similar to jackfruit and pineapple.



The unripe green fruits can irritate the throat and the latex of the leaves and vines can create rashes in the skin, because both contain poisonous potassium oxalate: That's the reason why the fruits have to be consumed when the scales lift up.


This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.





7 comments:

  1. Wow! Fabulous shots! Never seen such a fantastic flower!
    Thanks for sharing;o)

    ***
    Hope you are having a nice week****

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so intrigued by this Monstera deliciosa, because we have lots of them climbing big trees in the country, but i still haven't seen flowers moreso fruits. I just read from another Arizona blog that it's fruits are delicious, where its species came from. I am really intrigued why ours don't seem to be fruiting. I wonder if you know why!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I didn't know these were edible! I have a giant one in my yard in FLA that glowers from time to time. I have also fever heard that name, but I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good lord, that's what I get for reading blogs and commenting in the middle of the night! My plant does not glower, it flowers. Although the idea of a plant glowering is pretty funny! Anyway, sorry about the typos. :/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Libby's plants may flower, but most of mine do indeed glower :-)
    Mostly because I forget to water them.
    This monstera outdoor would tower over the indoor houseplant variety. Love the glowing colours of the flower.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful photos.

    Hope you can come and visit my Spiny Flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amazing macro of this flower in the process of blooming! I don't think I have ever seen this particular stage!

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you, so please comment. I appreciate constructive criticism as it improves my skills as an amateur photographer.