I encountered a great deal of uncertainty as to the name of this species, which is
variable enough in appearance to confuse even the experts. It is a native of the
Amazon regions of Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil. It is also found in Antigua, Saba, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad & Tobago. It was listed in a botanical garden as
Philodendron monstera oblique ‘Swiss Cheese,’ but this cannot be correct.
The genus Monstera refers to the very large size adult leaves can reach. The one thing pretty much everyone
agrees on is the common name “swiss cheese plant,” because its large leaves often have holes.
Identification: This vine is an epiphyte, sometimes found
growing on trees. It may reach 13' (4 m) in length. Leaves in mature plants are 20-30" (50-75 cm),
and usually have many oval-shaped holes.
Flowers are waxy and white, composed of a white spathe up to 7" (18 cm) in size, and a light
green spadix.