Monstera is a genus of tropical climbing plants in the family Araceae, first formally described in 1763 by French botanist Michel Adanson. Native to the humid forests of Central and South America, they begin on the forest floor before climbing trees with aerial roots to reach light from beneath the canopy. The name Monstera is derived from the Latin word “monstrous,” referring to the dramatic size of its mature foliage, which often develops fenestrations, the natural holes and deep divisions that form as the leaves mature. The term fenestration comes from the Latin fenestra, meaning “window.” Monstera produce inflorescences that may bear edible fruit (species dependant), though the rest of the plant is toxic to humans and pets if ingested. This genus has been cultivated in botanical collections since it was first found, but became widely popular as a houseplant during the mid-20th century as tropical foliage plants became increasingly common in interior cultivation.

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