Monstera buseyi Croat & Grayum, Phytologia

Croat, Thomas B., Cedeño-Fonseca, Marco & Ortiz, Orlando O., 2024, Revision of Monstera (Araceae: Monsteroideae) of Central America, Phytotaxa 656 (1), pp. 1-197 : 44-45

8. Monstera buseyi Croat & Grayum, Phytologia 82: 38. 1997. ( Figs. 16 , 17 )

Type: — COSTA RICA. Heredia: between Río Peje and Río Sardinalito, Atlantic slope of Volcán Barva. 8 April 1986. M.H. Grayum 6877 (holotype MO!, isotypes B!, CR!) .

Robust nomadic vine, appressed-climbing. SEEDLINGS: bearing foliage leaves. JUVENILE PLANTS: root climbers; stems rough-pustular at apex (with black pustules), green, cylindrical or slightly flattened; internodes 2–4 cm long, 1.0– 1.5 cm diam.; petiole distinct, light-green, rough-pustular with black pustules at base, 12–15 cm long, sheathed to base of the geniculum; petiole sheath semi-persistent; blades lanceolate, truncate at base, acuminate at apex, thinly coriaceous, 7–14 × 6–9 cm, not appressed to the phorophyte; fenestrations absent or present. ADULT PLANTS: root climbers; stems green, brown or gray, rough-pustular on leafy parts (with black pustules), cylindrical or slightly flattened; internodes 2–5(20) cm long, 1.0–3.0 cm diam., 1.6–2.0 times longer than wide; cataphylls deciduous or marcescent, light-green with a very reduced blade, black-pustular at base; anchor roots black; feeder roots gray and corky; petioles light-green, covered with black pustules along their entire length, rough-verrucose mainly at base, white-cream to pale pinkish internally, 20–75 cm long, sheathed 7–10 cm before base of the geniculum; petiole sheath semi-persistent; geniculum rough-verrucose, slightly ribbed adaxially and convex abaxially, 3–4 cm long; unsheathed portion flattened adaxially and convex abaxially; blades ovate to lanceolate-ovate or elliptic, broadly cuneate to truncate at base, acuminate at apex, thinly coriaceous to subcoriaceous, drying gray, blackish or olive-green (scarcely yellowish-green), 27–75 × 11–33 cm, (1.5)1.7–2.2 times longer than wide, decurrent-undulate over the geniculum (4–8 undulations of 1–4 mm wide), midrib slightly ribbed adaxially, convex abaxially, drying black or yellowish on both surfaces, primary lateral veins 35–65 per side, bifurcated or trifurcated, strongly sunken adaxially, prominent abaxially, departing midrib at 85–90°, drying black or yellowish; secondary veins prominent and reticulate; collective veins visible in blades with entire margins; fenestrations absent or present, arranged in a single series along the midrib when present; margins entire or pinnatilobed with 2–5 lobes per side. INFLORESCENCES on ascending stems, 1–3 simultaneously at flowering season, arranged in the leaf axils or into cataphylls; peduncle smooth or scarcely pustular, 17–30 cm long, 1–2 cm diam.; spathe short or long acuminate, light green to pruinose during development, white internally and cream-yellowish externally at anthesis, 7–22 × 10–13 cm, equal to or 4 cm longer than the spadix; spadix white during development, cream-white at anthesis, 6–20 cm long, 1.5–2.0 cm diam., (5)6–8(9) times longer than wide; basal sterile flowers 3–5 mm long; fertile flowers 5–7 mm long; stamens 1.2–7.0 mm long, with laminar filaments; anthers 1.5–2.0 mm long; ovary sub-conical in longitudinal section, 3.5–5.0 × 2.0– 2.5 mm; style pentagonal or hexagonal, 1.2–2.0 × 4–5 mm; stigma linear, sunken on the top surface of the style; berries with a cream stylar cap, light-green during development; pulp white; seeds black, spherical, 5–7 mm long.

Distribution and ecology: — Monstera buseyi ranges from Costa Rica (Alejuela, Heredia, Puntarenas, San José) to Panama, (Chirquí) at 40–1450 m in Tropical wet forest life zones.

Phenology: —Flowering has been recorded in January-July, November to December. Fruiting in March, June to November.

Discussion: —The species is a member of a sect. Monstera and is characterized by short internodes, pustular, obscurely whitish-speckled, brownish-roughened to sometimes weakly verrucose, U-shaped petioles, sheathed to geniculum, with the sheath deciduous or somewhat persistent, blades broadly cuneate to rounded, truncate or subcordate at base and marginally entire to pinnately 4–5 lobed or with 1–2 large perforations or sinuses as well as by peduncle being longer than the spathe, the latter greenish white outside, pale yellowish to white within and with the spadix usually 6–8 times longer than wide and mature white berries.

Monstera buseyi is closely related to M. alfaroi and both have tuberculate petioles. Most collections of M. buseyi have narrowly ovate-elliptic blades 2.0–2.5 times longer than broad which dry medium grayish yellow-brown above and much paler, yellowish green and often matte below (less frequently dark brown above and dark gray-brown and semiglossy below with the blades only 1.7 times longer than wide) with the flowering spadices 6–9 cm long, to ca. 1 cm diam. and with the infructescences to 12 cm long. In addition, the blades of M. buseyi have leaf blades with the primary lateral veins usually branching once or twice near the midrib then with the branches extending closely parallel along the primary lateral vein to the margin. In contrast M. alfaroi , known from the Cordillera de Talamanca and in the Fila Tinamaste, have more broadly ovate blades only 1.6 times longer than wide, drying blackened, with the lower surfaces drying semiglossy and with much larger inflorescences, ranging from 17 cm long post-anthesis to 22 cm long in early fruit.

Additional specimens examined: — COSTA RICA. Alajuela: San Ramón, Ángeles, R.F. San Ramón, Ca. 10 km west of Lagitos; in forest on ridge and secondary woods along Río San Lorencito , 950 m, 30 May 1986, (Fr.), B.E. Hammel et al. 15257 ( CR!) ; San Ramón, Ángeles , R.B. Alberto Manuel Brenes. Sendero Volcán Muerto, 800 m, 30 April 1994, (Fr.), V. Nilsson 456 ( CR!) ; San Ramón, Ángeles , R.B. Alberto Manuel Brenes, Sendero La Cascada, 800 m, 29 April 1994, (Fr.), V. Nilsson 452 ( CR!) ; San Carlos, La Tigra , Reserva San Lorenzo de UCR, headwaters of the Río San Lorenzo below the Fila Volcan Muerte, 1000 m, 14 July 1983, (Fr.), K. Barringer & G. Herrera 3830 ( CR!) ; R.F. San Ramón, Bajos de Jamaical, Bosque tropical lluvioso, 850 m, 10 May 1985, (Fr.), I. Chacon 1809 ( CR!) ; San Ramón, Peñas Blancas, Rio Penas Blancas , Finca de Tomas Guindon , 900 m, 10 March 1989, (Infer.), E. Bello 761 ( CR!) ; San Ramón; Angeles; Along road between San Ramon and Bajo Rodriguez ; 12 km NW of Los Angeles; 16 km NW of San Ramon; 1050 m, 3 September 1996, (Fr.), T.B. Croat 78879 ( CR!, MO!) ; Alajuela, Sarapiquí, SW of Cariblanco, canyon of Rio Cariblanco and W slope and summit of ridge Rio Cariblanco and Quebrada Quicuyal, 840 m, 22 January 1986, (Fr.), M.H. Grayum 6185 ( CR!, MO!) ; San Ramón, Angeles, Valley of Rio Peñas Blancas , 850 m, 29 February 1992, (Infer.), M.H. Grayum 10200 ( CR!) ; San Ramón, Peñas Blancas, Poco Sol , 13 km South Fortuna, 700 m, 20 August 1989, (Fr.), W. Haber 9345 ( CR!) ; Upala, Aguas Claras, Quebrada Provision , 2 Km aguas abajo del sendero hacia Colonia Blanca, 820 m, 19 January 1991, (Fr.), G. Rivera 996 ( CR!) ; Upala, Aguas Claras, Los Zanjos, Quebrada Rancho Grande, falda SE del Volcan Santa Maria, 900 m, 1 March 1991, (Infer.), G. Rivera 1126 ( CR!) ; Upala, Aguas Claras, Colonia Blanca , Quebrada Leiva , 4 km aguas arriba del límite este del parque, 1000 m, 14 April 1991, (Fr.), G. Rivera 1252 ( CR!, MO!) ; San Ramón, Peñas Blancas, Fortuna , El bosque (San Martín, El Burrito), Reserva Biológica Dendrobates , Alrededores de Quebrada Piedrita , 150 m, 12 May 2007, (Fr.), A. Rodríguez 11116 ( CR!) ; Cordillera de Tilarán, Along road between San Ramón and Bajo Rodríguez , 1100 m, 26 September 1987, (Infer.), T.B. Croat 68068 ( MO!) ; Monteverde Reserve , 900–1150 m, 29 October 1986, (Fr.), W. Haber 6158 ( MO!) ; Finca Los Ensayos , 850 m, 15 August 1977, (Infer.), T.B. Croat 43582 ( MO!) ; San Ramón, Reserva Biológica Alberto Manuel Brenes , 850 m, 21 Noviembre 1998, (Fl.), L. Gómez & V. Mora 13154 ( USJ!) ; San Ramón, Peñas Blancas, Refugio Aleman , 1005 m, 3 December 2017, (Fl.), M. Cedeño et al. 1051 ( USJ!) ; Guatuso, Cote, Cordillera de Tilarán , 5 km al norte del Lago Arenal, Alrededores del lago Coter, 900 m, 14 October 1994, (Fr.), A. Cascante et al. 356 ( CR!) ; Guanacaste: Liberia , Liberia, P.N. Rincón de la Vieja , Puesto Santa María , del mirador por la fila hasta el sesteo de la danta, de donde se baja hasta el canal, 950 m, 5 March 1988, (Fl.), G. Herrera 1602 ( CR!) ; Tilarán, Quebrada Grande, Río Chiquito , Arenal , Zona de Monteverde , 730 m, 3 March 1988, (Fl.), W. Haber & E. Bello 8256 ( CR!) ; P.N. Guanacaste , Estación Pitilla , 700 m, 7 November 1990, (Fr.), C. Moraga 146 ( CR!) ; Liberia, Mayorga, Estación Cacao , Cerro Cacao , Sendero Arenales , 1100 m, 9 February 1995, (Fl.), F. Alfaro 40 ( CR!) ; Liberia, Mayorga, Estacion Cacao , 1100 m, 28 October 1990, (Fl.), C. Chávez 315 ( CR!) ; Liberia, Mayorga, Estacion Cacao , 1100 m, 21 November 1990, (Fl.), R. Espinoza 17 ( CR!) ; Liberia, Mayorga, Estación Cacao , 11 m, 23 November 1990, (Fr.), R. Espinoza 53 ( CR!) ; Liberia, Mayorga, Estacion Cacao , 1100 m, 3 June 1990, (Fr.), M. Zumbado 46 ( CR!) ; Heredia: Sarapiquí, La Virgen , Area between Río Peje and Río Sardinalito, Atlantic slope of Volcán Barva, Mostly primary forest, 495 m, 8 April 1986, (Infer.), M.H. Grayum 6877 ( CR!) ; Colonia Virgen del Socorro, Cariblanco , 1000 m, 3 June 1983, (Infer.), C. Chacón & B. Ocampo 68 ( CR!) ; Limón: Pococí , Colorado, P.N. Guanacaste, Estación Cacao, Bosque primario y secundario, Orilla Quebrada , bosque primario, 1100 m, 3 June 1990, (Fr.), U. Chavarría 25 ( CR!) ; Puntarenas: Osa, Sierpe, about 5 km west of Rincón de Osa, 50 m, 9 January 1970, (Infer.), W. Burger & R. Liesner 7327 ( CR!) ; Osa, Sierpe, Forested area near the airfield about 4 miles west of Rincón de Osa, 30 m, 4 June 1968, (Fr.), W. Burger & R. Stolze 5430 ( CR!) ; Golfito , Golfito, R.N. V.S. Golfito, Cabeceras de la quebrada Cañaza, 150 m, 3 March 1994, (Fl.), G. Herrera & G. Rivera 7005 ( CR!) ; Golfito, Jiménez, Sirena , Los Patos Forest , 1 m, 26 May 1989, (Infer.), C. Kernan 1118 ( CR!) ; Osa, Sierpe, Along road between Rincón de Osa and Rancho Quemado, (Valley of Rìo Chocuaco). Ca. 6 km W of main Rincòn-Pto Jiménez road, 40 m, 2 March 1985, (Fr.), T.B. Croat & M.H. Grayum 59744 ( CR!, MO!) ; Osa, Sierpe, Rancho Quemado , parte plana, 300 m, 16 December 1991, (Infer.), R. Aguilar 757 ( CR!) ; Osa, Sierpe, Vicinity of Boscosa , at Quebrada Aguabuena, 100 m, 11 September 1996, (Infer.), T.B. Croat 79233 ( MO!) ; Garabito, Tárcoles, Along N Fork (known locally as ‘Quebrada Mona’) of Quebrada Bonita, 35 m, 11 June 1986, (Fr.), M.H. Grayum 7594 ( CR!, MO!) ; Golfito, Golfito, Along steep carril ascending W slope of Fila Gamba, ca. 0.5 km NE of jct. of Quebrada Gamba and Q. Rancho, 100 m, 30 January 1992, (Fr.), M.H. Grayum 10079 ( CR!, MO!) ; Osa, Sierpe, El Campo , Subiendo por la fila entre Aguabuena y Baneguitas, cuenca superior de Quebrada Banegas, 100 m, 14 January 1991, (Infer.), G. Herrera 4823 ( CR!) ; Osa, Sierpe, Agua Buena , en ladera boscosa al norte de BOSCOSA, subiendo hacia la Fila Casa Loma, 15 m, 25 August 1990, (Fr.), C. Morales 96 ( CR!) ; Osa, Sierpe, Osa , Rancho Quemado , 200 m, 31 December 2004, (Fl.), D. Santamaría 442 ( CR!) ; Osa, Puerto Jiménez, Camino a la toma de agua , Rancho Quemado , Rincón , Bosque Primario , 200 m, 20 June 1905, (Fl.), F. Quesada 265 ( CR!) ; Along Quebrada Bonita , 35–80 m, 25 July 1985, (Fr.), M.H. Grayum 5722 ( MO!) ; Osa, Slopes above Airport, Disturbed primary forest, Rincon de Osa, 20–300 m, 11 February 1974, (Fr.), R. Liesner 2052 ( MO!) ; Osa, Rincón de Osa, Streams and slopes adjacent to airfield , 20–200 m, 6 February 1974, (Infer.), R. Liesner 174 6 ( MO!) ; Hills above Palmar Norte , 100–200 m, 20 May 1976, (Fr.), T. Croat 3512 5 ( MO!) ; San José: Vazquez de Coronado, Dulce Nombre de Jesús, P.N. Braulio Carrillo , Between Bajo de La Hondura and Alto La Palma , 1450 m, 19 July 1983, (Fr.), K. Barringer et al. 4003 ( CR!) ; Perez Zeledón, Barú, Tinamaste , Finca de los Suizos , 650 m, 14 April 1999, (Fr.), A. Estrada 2140 ( CR!) ; Perez Zeledón, Barú, Tinamaste , Faldas de Fila Tinamaste , Finca de los Suizos , 650 m, 19 August 1998, (Fr.), O. Valverde et al. 1090 ( CR!) ; Turrubares, San Juan de Mata, Ca. 3 km NE of Bijagual de Turrubares, Western part of Montanas Jamaica , 500 m, 7 August 1985, (Fr.), M.H. Grayum 5840 ( CR!) ; Aserrí, Legua, Quebrada Lajas , ca. 2.5 km al noroeste de Altos el Aguacate, 850 m, 24 September 2003, (Fr.), R. Kriebel 3962 ( CR!) ; Puriscal, Chires, San Martin de Puriscal , bosque primario remanente en la Fila Vara Blanca, cabecera de Rio Negro, limite NW Cangreja, 800 m, 21 April 1995, (Fr.), J. Morales 3905 ( CR!) ; Puriscal, Chires, San Martin de Puriscal , bosque primario remanente en la Fila Vara Blanca, cabecera de Rio Negro, limite NW Cangreja, 29 December 1985, (Fl.), J. Morales 3713 ( CR!) ; Turrubares, San Luis, San Luis de Turrubares , finca de Melvin Chavarría, 1200 m, 5 October 2004, (Fr.), A. Soto 173 ( CR!) . PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: 1.2 mi S of Punta Peña , 08°54’00”N 082°11’06”W, 100 m, 24 April 1988, Sue A. Thompson 4919 ( CM) ; Gualaca-Chiriquí Grande, 1 km N of Rambala, 2.1 N of Punta Peña , 08°56’N 082°11’W, 110 m, 29 March 1993, Thomas B. Croat 74943 ( MO!) ; Chiriquí: Burica Peninsula. San Bartolo Limité, 20 km west of Puerto Armuelles , 08°17’48”N 082°30’00”W, 400–600 m, 22 February 1973, Phil Busey 542 ( MO!) .

Figures

FIGURE 16. Monstera buseyi from Tilarán, Costa Rica. (A) Fertile flower; lateral view (left) and longitudinal section (right). (B) One stamen (left) and stylar plate with stigma (right). (C) Developing inflorescence. (D) Sterile flower; longitudinal section (left) and lateral view (right). (E) Portion of adult plant. M. Cedeño et al. 1052 (USJ). Image from Cedeño-Fonseca et al. (2022).

FIGURE 17. Monstera buseyi from Tilarán, Costa Rica. (A) Stem; (i) segment with short internodes, <1 cm long; (ii) feeder root. (B) Petioles with black warts at base (arrow). (C) Base of the blade decurrent onto the geniculum and undulate (arrow). (D) Branched primary lateral veins (arrow). M. Cedeño et al. 1052 (USJ). Image from Cedeño-Fonseca et al. (2022).