monsteria leaf morphology? and Aloe polyphylla #4

monsteria leaf morphology?

Hey, I was wondering why monsteria leaves have the natural holes/gaps- what advantage does this give to the plant? Sources would be good too please. Thanks!


inflorescence best answer:

Answer by Chimico Blu ☆☢ Topol M ☢☆
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstera
Monstera is a genus of 22 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", the members of the genus are distinguished by their unusual leaves with natural holes.
They are herbs or evergreen vines, growing to heights of 20 m in trees, climbing by means of aerial roots which act as hooks over branches; these roots will also grow into the soil to help support the plant. The leaves are alternate, leathery, dark green, very large, from 25-90 cm long (up to 130 cm long in M. dubia) and 15-75 cm broad, often with holes in the leaf blade. The flowers are borne on a specialised inflorescence called a spadix, 5-45 cm long; the fruit is a cluster of white berries, edible in some species.
They are commonly grown indoors as houseplants. The best-known representative of the genus, Monstera deliciosa, is also cultivated for its edible fruit which taste like a combination of banana and pineapple.

Selected species
Monstera acuminata - Shingle Plant
Monstera adansonii
Monstera deliciosa - Ceriman or Swiss-cheese Plant
Monstera dubia
Monstera epipremnoides
Monstera karwinskyi
Monstera obliqua
Monstera punctulata
Monstera standleyana
Monstera subpinnata

Monstera is a genus of 22 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas. The genus is named from the Latin word for "monstrous" or "abnormal", the members of the genus are distinguished by their unusual leaves with natural holes.

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Monocots
Order:Alismatales
Family:Araceae
Subfamily:Monsteroideae
Tribe:Monstereae
Genus:Monstera Adans.

Monstera deliciosa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Monstera_deliciosa2.jpg

inflorescence

Aloe polyphylla #4


Best viewed @ large size

Asphodelaceae - South Africa
Spiral Aloe
Shown: Detail of developing, branched inflorescence

"Aloe, also written Aloë, is a genus containing about four hundred species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe".

"The genus is native to Africa, and is common in South Africa's Cape Province, the mountains of tropical Africa, and neighbouring areas such as Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula, and the islands off Africa.

"The APG II system (2003) placed the genus in the family Asphodelaceae. In the past it has also been assigned to families Aloaceae and Liliaceae or lilly family. Members of the closely allied genera Gasteria, Haworthia and Kniphofia, which have a similar mode of growth, are also popularly known as aloes. Note that the plant sometimes called American aloe (Agave americana) belongs to Agavaceae, a different family.

"Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, pink or red and are borne on densely clustered, simple or branched leafless stems.

"Many species of Aloe appear to be stemless, with the rosette growing directly at ground level; other varieties may have a branched or unbranched stem from which the fleshy leaves spring. They vary in colour from grey to bright-green and are sometimes striped or mottled. Some Aloes native to South Africa are arborescent." (Wikipedia)

Detailed description of Aloe poyphylla:
www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/aloepoly.htm

Additional views:
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Photographed in U.C. Botanical Garden at Berkeley - Berkeley, California

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