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  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
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

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