Monstera epipremnoides Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 37: 118. 1905 Revision of Monstera (Araceae: Monsteroideae) of Central America Croat, Thomas B. Cedeño-Fonseca, Marco Ortiz, Orlando O. Phytotaxa 2024 2024-06-27 656 1 1 197 6RPS7 Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. [189,741,1636,1663] Liliopsida Araceae Monstera Plantae Alismatales 76 77 Tracheophyta species epipremnoides   Type:—  Costa Rica. ‘[ San José,]  La Uruca,  1100 m.,  July 1890,  P. Biolley2846’ [( lectotypeB! seen on-line, barcode B100141893,  isolectotypesBR! [with label data of Pittier 2486], CR! [with label data of Biolley 2846, pro parte — mixtum: one un-numbered sheet of two], designated by Madison (1977)).  Robust nomadic vine, appressed-climbing habit. SEEDLINGS: bearing foliage leaves. JUVENILE PLANTS: root climbers; stemsdark green, smooth, cylindrical, white-dotted; internodes 4–7 cmlong, 5–10 mmdiam.; petioledistinct, light green with white dots, smooth, 7–10 cmlong, sheathed to base of the geniculum; petiole sheathpersistent; bladesovate to lanceolate, obtuse or attenuate at base, acuminate, coriaceous, 13–17 × 4–9 cm, not appressed to the phorophyte; fenestrationsabsent or present, frequently arranged on one side of the blade when present. ADULT PLANTS: root climbers; stemsbeige to dark or light green, smooth, cylindrical; internodes 1–7 cmlong, 1.5–4.0 cm diam., 0.6–1.7 times as long as wide; cataphyllsgreenish-white, deciduous; anchor rootsdark brown; feeder rootsbeige; petiolelight green, whitish or mottled, smooth, 30–50 cmlong, sheathed to base of the geniculum; petiole sheathpersistent and thick; geniculum smooth, flat adaxially, convex abaxially, white spotted, 3–5 cmlong; bladesovate to elliptic or oblong, broadly rounded or truncate at base, short-acuminate at apex, coriaceous, drying light brown, dull beige or bright brown, 20–70 × 20–40 cm, 1.5–2.2 times longer than wide, slightly decurrent on the geniculum, decurrent portion 1–3 mm; midribribbed adaxially, convex abaxially, drying dark brown or matte-beige on both surfaces; primary lateral veins9–20 per side, departing midrib at 80–90°, sunken above, prominent below, drying dark brown; collective veinsnot visible; fenestrationsabsent or present, on each side of the midrib when present; marginsentire or deeply pinnatifid, with 3–15 lobes per side, each 1.8–9.0 cm wide, wider lobes fenestrated with up to 4 veins. INFLORESCENCES on ascending and pendent stems, 1 or 2 simultaneously at flowering time, arranged in the leaf axils or into cataphylls; pedunclelight green, 7–20 cmlong; spatheacuminate, green during development, cream, yellowish green or white externally and white internally at anthesis, coriaceous, completely open at apex with the margins overlapping at base and revolute in the medial part, deciduous or marcescent after anthesis, 15–25 × 8–13 cm, up to 13 cmlonger than the spadix; spadixwhite during development, cream-yellowish at anthesis, 10–15 cmlong, 1.5–3.5 cmdiam., 3.4–5.5 times longer than wide; basal sterile flowers 4–5 mmlong, with a yellowish stigmatic secretion; fertile flowers 4–8 mmlong; stamens 3–7 mmlong, with laminar filaments; anthers 3–4 mmlong; ovary rectangular in longitudinal section, ribbed, 5–6 × 2–3 mm; style compressed and hexagonal, 2–4 × 3–4 mm; stigmatophore conical, 0.5–1.0 mm long; stigma circular, with a yellowish stigmatic secretion; berrieswith a light-green stylar cap during development, mature stylar cap creamy-white; pulp white; seedsblack, spherical, 4–6 mmlong.   Distribution and ecology:—  Monstera epipremnoidesis known from Costa Ricaand Panama. In Costa Ricait is known from both slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca, occurring at 1200–2200 m, in Tropical wet forestand Premontane rain forestlife zones. In Panamait is known from only the one collection from Chiriquí, growing at 1200–1400 ina Premontane rain forestlife zone.   Phenology:—Flowering in January, March-May and September. Fruiting in February-March, June, August-September and December.   Discussion:—This species is a member of sect.  Monstera.It differs from the other species of the genus by the mottled or whitish petiole, the persistent petiolar sheath with open wings, pinnatifid leaf blades with fenestrations on each side next to the midrib, the green spathe yellowish externally and up to 13 cmlonger than the spadix, and the circular stigma, slightly raised on a stigmatophore. It is similar to  M. monteverdensisbut differs in that the latter has green or mottled petioles with the sheath deciduous, leaves which are pinnatifid but without fenestrations on each side next to the midrib, spathes which are light green or yellowish externally. Specimens of  M. oreophilawhich have their blade with the perforations broken through along the margins can be confused with specimens of  M. epipremnoidesbut that species differs in having deciduous petiole sheaths and a pink spathe on the inside ( Grayum, 2003; Cedeño-Fonseca et al.2022). For more details about the taxonomic comments and nomenclatural note see Cedeño-Fonseca et al.(2022).   Additional specimens examined:—  COSTA RICA.  Puntarenas: Parrita, Parrita, San Josecito, Finca de Marvin Abarca, Fila Chonta,  1400 m,  24 November 2003, ( Fl.), A. Quesada1231( CR!);   San José: Mora, Tabarcia, Z.P. Cerros de Escazú, Río Negro, entrando por Palmichal,  1500 m,  4 March 1990, ( Fl.), L. Vargaset al. 991( CR!);  Pérez Zeledón, Rivas, Dellímite del Parqueal sendero Termómetro,  2000 m,  5 May 1997, ( Fl.),  R. Aguilar5079( CR!);  Pérez Zeledón, Rivas, Senderoal Chirripo, fila cementerio La Máquina, colectado en bosque y orilla de potrero,  1900 m,  16 September 1997, ( Fr.),  E. Alfaro1437( CR!);  Turrubares, San Luis, Vecindades de Llano Caite,  1500 m,  5 March 1993, ( Fr.), Q. Jiménez1184( CR!, MO!);  Acosta, Cangrejal, Cerros de Caraigres, Alto Reflis, camino a Fila Aguabuena,  1600 m,  2 January 1997, ( Fl.), J. Morales5977( CR!, MO!);  Mora, Tabarcia, Santa Ana, Targuá,  1300 m,  6 November 2004, ( Fl.),  D. Santamaría249( CR!);  Dota, Copey, Cedro Eco Lodge,  1900 m,  9 February 2018, ( Fl.),  M. Cedeñoet al. 1274( USJ!);  Dota, Copey, Cedro Eco Lodge,  1900 m,  9 February 2018, ( Fl., Fr.),  M. Cedeñoet al.1275 ( USJ!);  San José, Escazú, Escazú, Cerro Pico Alto,  1758 m,  22 September 2018, ( Fl.),  M. Cedeño& K. Benavides1476( USJ!);  Turrubares, San Pedro, San Pablo de Turrubares,  300 m,  9 December 2004, ( Fl., Fr.),  D. Santamaría338( CR!);  Acosta, Sabanillas, Sabanas, 2 kmal sur de la Escuela,  1062 m,  30 October 2001, ( Fl.), A. Quesadaet al. 760( CR!);  Acosta, Cangrejal, Z.P. Caraigres, Cuencadel Pirrís-Damas, Alto Reflis, falda Norte, Fila Aguabuena,  1800 m,  16 February 2001, ( Fr.),  J. Morales7490( CR!). 4947099810 [219,1452,1711,1733] 1890-07 La Uruca & P. Biolley Costa Rica 1100 La Uruca 76 77 2 San Jose lectotype 4947100103 1890-07 La Uruca & P. Biolley Costa Rica 1100 La Uruca 76 77 2 San Jose lectotype 4947099361 2003-11-24 CR Fl. & Quesada Costa Rica Parrita 1400 San Josecito Parrita 79 80 1 Puntarenas 4947099381 1990-03-04 CR L. Vargas Costa Rica 1500 Palmichal Rio Negro 79 80 1 San Jose 4947099763 1997-05-05 CR Fl. & R. Aguilar Costa Rica Perez Zeledon 2000 Del Rivas 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100244 1997-09-16 CR E. Alfaro Costa Rica Perez Zeledon 1900 Sendero Rivas 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100066 1993-03-05 CR, MO Fr. & Jimenez Costa Rica Turrubares 1500 Vecindades de Llano Caite San Luis 79 80 1 San Jose 4947099802 1997-01-02 CR, MO Fl. & Morales Costa Rica 1600 Fila Aguabuena 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100191 2004-11-06 CR Fl. & D. Santamaria Costa Rica Mora 1300 Santa Ana Tabarcia 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100208 2018-02-09 USJ Fl. & M. Cedeno Costa Rica Dota 1900 Cedro Eco Lodge Copey 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100342 2018-02-09 USJ M. Cedeno Costa Rica Dota 1900 Cedro Eco Lodge Copey 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100100 2018-09-22 USJ M. Cedeno & K. Benavides Costa Rica Escazu 1758 Cerro Pico Alto Escazu 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100435 2004-12-09 CR D. Santamaria Costa Rica Turrubares 300 San Pablo de Turrubares San Pedro 79 80 1 San Jose 4947099508 2001-10-30 CR Quesada Costa Rica 1062 79 80 1 San Jose 4947100403 2001-02-16 CR Fr. & J. Morales Costa Rica Pirris-Damas 1800 Norte Alto Reflis 79 80 1 San Jose