Monstera obliqua vs. M. adansonii

From: KLJones715 at aol.com on 2002.02.13 at 04:00:16(8198) Hello: After lurking on this list for at least five years, and enjoying the opportunity to soak up all of this aroid knowledge, I have finally worked up the nerve to ask a question. What is the difference between Monstera obliqua and Monstera adansonii? Obviously, they are two different species. What I need to know is if I had a specimen of each of them in front of me, how would I tell the difference? Karen

From: "Eduardo Goncalves" edggon at hotmail.com> on 2002.02.13 at 16:06:06(8200) Dear Karen, The differences are not so obvious, considering there are three different things under the name M. adansonii (called "varieties" by Michael Madison). Anyway, let?s try to take the easiest way. General aspect: Monstera obliqua is a slender plant, loosely attached to the host three. Monstera adansonii can be quite robust, mainly in the variety klotzschiana, and it is usually closely attached. Inflorescence: Monstera obliqua usually has a small spadix, no more than 10 mm thick. Monstera adansonii will have a spadix that may be between 1,1-2,6 mm thick. Basal flowers are sterile in Monstera adansonii, whereas they are completely fertile in M. obliqua. In time: Monstera obliqua has a dull yellow spathe, whereas it is cream or pale yellow in M. adansonii. Infructescence: Berries of M. adansonii have a hard cap (stylar portion with trichosclereids) that abscises when the berries are ripe. So unripe berries are prismatic and seems somewhat hardened. The berries in Monstera obliqua are globose, does not have the hard cap, so it is softer. Well, in theory these are the differences. There is a new species in Brazil (to be described) that is somewhat intermediate, and it is widely distributed. Anyway, I hope you were not lucky enough to have one of this in your way. +More Very best wishes, Eduardo. >Hello: > >After lurking on this list for at least five years, and enjoying the >opportunity to soak up all of this aroid knowledge, I have finally worked >up >the nerve to ask a question. > >What is the difference between Monstera obliqua and Monstera adansonii? >Obviously, they are two different species. What I need to know is if I had >a >specimen of each of them in front of me, how would I tell the difference? > >Karen _________________________________________________________________ Join the world?s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com

From: "Peter Boyce" p.boyce at rbgkew.org.uk> on 2002.02.13 at 16:33:40(8202) Hi Karen Not easy until you get a 'feel' for them! Both, as currently circumscribed, are extraordinarily variable. The 'easiest' way I've found is that M. adansonii is generally robust, with adult leaf laminae leathery, 25 - 70cm x 15 - 45cm and petioles 20 - 60 cm long. Inflorescences are carried solitary of up to three per flowering event. Monstera obliqua is much more slender with leaf lamina membranous and very seldom as large as those of M. adansonii, and if long (up to c. 35 cm) then usually very narrow (c. 4 - 6 cm). Petioles are shorter (5 - 15 cm) and, most strikingly, inflorescences are borne in clusters of up to 8, and rarely fewer than 6. Pete +More ---------------------------- Peter Boyce Herbarium Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE Tel. (+44) (0)20 8 332 5207 fax. (+44) (0)20 8 332 5278 email: p.boyce@rbgkew.org.uk (work) boyce@pothos.demon.co.uk (home)

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