Monstera deliciosa, the Swiss cheese plant, is a ******* of ********* plant native to tropical forests of ******** Mexico, south to Panama. It *** **** ********** to many tropical areas, *** has become a mildly invasive species in Hawaii, Seychelles, Ascension ****** and the Society Islands. It is very ****** grown in temperate zones as a houseplant.
The plant *** be confused with Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, ***** as *** Split-leaf Philodendron ** **** Philodendron, as they have similar leaves and growing habits. However, the ingestion of Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum may cause irritation to the digestive tract *** will ****** internal swelling. The sap ** also known to irritate the skin
The specific epithet deliciosa means "delicious", referring to the edible fruit, while monstera means "monstrous", in reference to the size that this ***** 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", ** commonly stated to refer to the "eyes" or holes which develop in *** leaves similar to the holes in some Swiss-type cheeses such as Emmental cheese.
Monstera adansonii, which **** has holes ** the leaves, is also called "Swiss cheese plant", or Swiss ****** vine.
***** common names include delicious monster, fruit salad plant, ***** salad tree (in reference to its edible fruit, ***** tastes similar to a fruit salad),ceriman, monster fruit, monsterio delicio, monstereo, Mexican breadfruit, windowleaf, balazo, Penglai banana and (inaccurately) split leaf philodendron.*** names in ******* (costilla de Adán), Portuguese (costela-de-adão), and French (plante gruyère) refer ** the change ** the leaves from entire to fenestrated, comparing it in *** first two cases with *** ribs ** Adam and in the third with the hole-filled gruyè** cheese, despite modern gruyère cheese having no holes. In Mexico, *** plant is sometimes referred to as piñanona. ** coastal regions of Sicily, ********** Palermo, it is ****** zampa di leone (lion's paw).
