Re: identity of the dwarf Monstera deliciosa

From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2000.06.08 at 21:35:37(4690) Dear Friends, I believe that some clarification on this issue is in order, as there IS in fact a smaller or several smaller 'clones' of TRUE Monstera deliciosa in cultivation, in addition to the 'dwarf' plant which looks like a small M. deliciosa which Pete has kindly I.D.`d as Raphidophora tetrasperma from Peninsular Malaysia. The late Dr. Monroe Birdsey had a plant of this Raphidophora in his collection in Miami, which I believe he did not know the I.D. of though it was know to have been from Asia. Dr Tom Croat has confirmed that he has seen the very large, more well-know var. of M. deliciosa in only one area of Mexico, on limestone cliffs in the Uxpanapa region. He says -- 'Elsewhere most of the populations are smaller, some perforated and or incised-lobate or not, but not elaborately so. In Panama, for example the blades are often not even perforate. Nevertheless the inflorescences are the same throughout and there appear to be no major discontinuities of characteres for all these populations'. So--there are plants of smaller ('dwarf'?) Monstera deliciosa around in collections, both all-green and varigated, and in addition there may be this small species from Asia, Raphidophora tetrasperma which could be mistaken for a dwarf form of Monstera deliciosa. Hope we are clearer on this now!! Thanks to Tom for the clarification. Cheers and good growing to all, Julius +More >Pete, thanks for the explanation. I checked "Genera of the Araceae" and it seemed that the number of ovules and placentation were different but I did not read on further about the seeds. Is Monstera the only genus within the Monstereae without endosperm? Donna Atwood << Rhaphidophora and Monstera are, indeed, separated on fruit characteristics. Rhaphidophora has it's seeds (usually many, occasionally as few as four) arranged in two ranks running up the walls of the fruit and the mature seeds have endosperm; Monstera has few seeds (four, occasionally less), arranged in pairs in the middle of the fruit and the mature seeds lack endosperm. Fascinating, eh? >>

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