Monstera glaucescens Croat & Grayum, Phytologia

Croat, Thomas B., Cedeño-Fonseca, Marco & Ortiz, Orlando O., 2024, Revision of Monstera (Araceae: Monsteroideae) of Central America, Phytotaxa 656 (1), pp. 1-197 : 93

23. Monstera glaucescens Croat & Grayum, Phytologia 82: 44. 1997. ( Figs. 42 , 43 )

Type: — COSTA RICA. Heredia: Estación Biológica La Selva, at confluence of Rio Sarapiquí and Rio Puerto Viejo , Atlantic slope, 50–75 m, 5 Nov 1988, M.H. Grayum 8972 (holotype MO!) .

Nomadic vine, appressed-climbing. SEEDLINGS: bearing foliage leaves. JUVENILE PLANTS: root climbers; stems dark green, smooth and pruinose, cylindrical; internodes 3–8 cm long, 3–5 mm diam.; petioles distinct, dark green, smooth, 4–7 cm long, sheathed up to half their length; petiole sheath persistent; blades lanceolate, truncate at base, acuminate at apex, subcoriaceous, 9–15 × 4–7 cm, not appressed to the phorophyte; fenestrations absent. ADULT PLANTS: root climbers; stems light to dark green, smooth and pruinose; internodes 2–3(10) cm long, 1.0– 2.5 cm diam., 1.2–2.0 times longer than wide; cataphylls light-green or light green-pruinose, persistent or deciduous; anchor roots light brown; feeder roots dark brown; petiole light green and pruinose, smooth, 25–45 cm long, sheathed to half or 3 cm below base of the geniculum; petiole sheath persistent and closed; unsheathed portion slightly ribbed; geniculum smooth, slightly sunken adaxially, convex abaxially, 1.0– 2.5 cm long; blades ovate to elliptical, broadly cuneate to rounded, truncated or subcordate at base, acuminate at apex, subcoriaceous, drying glossy, light brown, reddish or black, 25–45 × 15–30 cm, 1.4–1.7 times longer than wide, decurrent on the geniculum, decurrent portion 1–2 mm wide; midrib ribbed adaxially, convex abaxially, drying reddish or black on both surfaces; primary lateral veins 6–18 per side, occasionally two of them emerge together from the midrib and then spreading towards the margin, sunken adaxially, prominent abaxially, departing midrib at 55–65°, drying reddish and black; secondary veins reticulate towards the margin; collective veins not visible; fenestrations absent; margins entire or deeply pinnatifid with 2–7 lobes per side. INFLORESCENCES on ascending stems, 1 or 2 simultaneously at flowering time, arranged in the leaf axils or into cataphylls; peduncle smooth, 12–25 cm long; spathe acuminate and completely open at apex, with overlapping basal margins, yellowish green during development, creamy white externally and white internally at anthesis, marcescent and turning dark blue at the end of anthesis, 15–22 × 9–14 cm, up to 12 cm longer than the spadix; spadix white during development, cream at anthesis, 4–10 cm long, 1.0–3.0 cm diam., 3.5–5.0 times longer than wide; basal sterile flowers with a spherical ovary and a conical stigmatophore, with an orange stigmatic secretion, 4–5 mm; fertile flowers 4–6 mm long; stamens 1–5 mm long, with laminar filaments; anthers 2–3 mm long; ovary cylindrical, rectangular in longitudinal section, ribbed, 3–4 × 2–3 mm; style compressed and hexagonal, 0.5–2.0 × 3–4 mm; stigma linear, cleft on top surface of style, with an orange stigmatic secretion; berries with a yellowish green stylar cap during development, mature stylar cap creamy; pulp white; seeds dark-brown, globose, 5–7 mm long.

Distribution and ecology: — Monstera glaucescens ranges from southeastern Nicaragua and Costa Rica (Atlantic slope) to E Panamá and Colombia (Chocó), at 0–850 m, in Tropical wet forest and Premontane wet forest life zones.

Phenology: —Flowering has been recorded in January and October. Fruiting in January-February, April, June, and November-December.

Discussion: —The species is a member of sect. Monstera . It differs from the other species of the genus in Costa Rica by its light green, pruinose petiole, sheathed to half or 3 cm below the base of the geniculum, persistent and closed petiolar sheath, pinnatilobed leaf blade without fenestrations, the externally and internally white/cream acuminate spathe, and sterile flowers with the ovary spherical and with a conical stigmatophore. It is similar to Monstera pinnatipartita , but the latter species has persistent, involute petiolar sheaths, the leaf blade deeply pinnatifid, and occurs only on the Pacific slope.

The species is not easily confused with any other but could be confused with M. bocatorensis which has the pinnae of the blade markedly unequal and drying light-yellow brown on the lower surface. In contrast M. glaucescens has leaf blades that dry dark brown and have much narrower pinnae with more long-tapered more prominently falcate pointed lobes.

Additional specimens examined: — NICARAGUA. Atlántico Sur: Río Punta Gorda, Atlanta, al SE de ”La Richard” Loma San Jorge, 11°31’N 084°04’W, 150–160 m, 13 noviembre 1981, P.P. Moreno & J.C. Sandino 13047 (MO!); Río Punta Gorda, Atlanta, al SE de ”La Richard” Loma San Jorge, 11°31’N 084°04’W, 150–160 m, 13 noviembre 1981, P.P. Moreno & J.C. Sandino 13054 (MO!); Río Punta Gorda, al este del la Corriente la Guitarrona, 11°31’N 084°10’W, 50–100 m, 24 Febrero 1994, R.M. Rueda et al. 3484 (MO!); Río Punta Gorda, al este del la Corriente la Guitarrona, 11°31’N 084°10’W, 50–100 m, 24 Febrero 1994, R.M. Rueda et al. 3491 (HULE, MO); Caño Costa Riquita, ca. 1.8 km SW of Colonia Naciones Unidas, above (S of) road between Colonia Nuevo Léon and Colonia Naciones Unidas, 11°43’N 084°18’W, 150–180 m, 06 November 1977 – 07 November 1977, W.D. Stevens 5030 (MO!); Río San Juan: Municipio El Castillo, Comunidad Laureano Mairena, a 5 km del Río Santa Crucita, 11°03’18”N 084°27’17”W, 60 m, 4 Julio 2005, C. Guadamuz 3621 (HULE, MO); Municipio El Castillo, Comunidad Laureano Mairena, a 5 km del Río Santa Crucita, 11°03’18”N 084°27’17”W, 60 m, 4 Julio 2005, C. Guadamuz 3621-A (MO!); Near Caño Chontaleño, 20 km NE of El Castillo, 11°08’N 084°12’W, 200 m, 18 April 1978 – 21 April 1978, D.A. Neill & P.C. Vincelli 3489 (HNMN!, MO!); Municipio el Castillo, Reserva Indio-Maiz, Cerro Bolívar, 10°51’N 084°10’W, 150–280 m, 30 noviembre 1998, R.M. Rueda et al. 9298 (HULE, MO); Municipio del Castillo. Estación Biológica Bartola, Sobre el rio Bartola a 3 kilometre de le desembocodura, 10°58’00”N 084°19’50”W, 50–100 m, 27 julio 1998, R.M. Rueda et al. 8201 (HULE, MO); Municipio del Castillo, Estación Biológica Bartola, sobre el Río Bartola a 3 km de la desembocadura, 10°58’00”N 084°19’50”W, 50–100 m, 28 julio 1998, R.M. Rueda et al. 8274 (HULE, MO); Municipio el Castillo, Reserva biológica ”Indio-Maiz”, Caño el Sarnoso, 10°55’N 084°17’W, 100 m, 3 diciembre 1998, R.M. Rueda et al. 9394 Municipio el Castillo, Reserva Indio-Maiz; Cerro el Diablo, 11°01’N 084°12’W, 250–350 m, 8 diciembre 1998, R.M. Rueda et al. 9575 (HULE); Reserva Indio-Maiz, Municipio de el Castillo, a lo largo del caño el Pavon, a 3 km de sa desembocadura en el Río Bartola, 11°01’N 084°16’W, 100–150 m, 1 Enero 1997, R.M. Rueda 5175 (HULE); Reserva Indio-Maíz, Municipio de el Castillo, a lo largo del caño el Pavon, a 3 km de su desembocadura en el Río Bartola, 11°01’N 084°16’W, 100–150 m, 31 Diciembre 1996, R.M. Rueda 5131 Reserva Indio-Maíz, Municipio de el Castillo, en los alrededores de la desembocadura del Río Bartola, 10°58’N 084°20’W, 30–50 m, 13 Enero 1997, R.M. Rueda 5691 (HULE, MO); Reserva Indio-Maíz, Municipio de el Castillo, 3 km al norte de la desembocadura del Caño Chontaleño, 11°05’N 084°15’W, 150–200 m, 13 Febrero 1997, R.M. Rueda 5741 (HULE, MO); Reserva Indio–Maíz, Municipio de el Castillo, 3 km al norte de la desembocadura del Caño Chontaleño, 11°05’N 084°15’W, 150–200 m, 13 Febrero 1997, R.M. Rueda 5762 (HULE); Reserva Indio-Maíz, Municipio de el Castillo, a lo largo del Caño Chontaleño, 11°06’N 084°14’W, 150–200 m, 14 Febrero 1997, R.M. Rueda 5803 (HULE, MO); Reserva Indio-Maíz, Municipio de el Castillo, a lo largo del Caño Chontaleño, 11°09’N 084°11’W, 150–200 m, 17 Febrero 1997, R.M. Rueda et al. 6026 (MO!). COSTA RICA. Alajuela: San Carlos, Pocosol, 2 km N of San Rosa, 15 km N of Boca Arenal on Quesada, Muelle San Carlos, Los Chiles road, 100 m, 28 April 1983, (Fr.), R. Liesner 15034 (CR!, MO!); Upala, Aguas Claras, Sector Caribe; colectado en bosque y charal, sendero el pantano, 395 m, 11 June 2003, (Fr.), E. Alfaro 4480 (CR!); San Carlos, Pital, Lagunas La Cureña, 100 m, 30 April 2004, (Fr.), R. Kriebel 4525 (CR!); San Ramon, Bajo Rodriguez, 300 m, 11 April 1976, (Fr.), J. Utley 4625 (MO!); San Carlos, 3 km south of Boca de Arenal in trashy patch of remnant forest in midst of cane fields of Hacienda Boca Arenal, 100 m, 6 March 1986, (Fr.), B.E. Hammel 15320 (MO!); Los Chiles, Los Chiles, Las Delicias, 56 m, 3 March 2017, (Fr.), M. Cedeño et al. 1041 (USJ!). Cartago. Turrialba, Tres Equis, Sendero Principal hacia Barbilla, por la loma, 300 m, 18 October 2000, (Fl.), E. Mora 1608 (CR!, MO!); Guanacaste: La Cruz, Santa Cecilia, Estación Pitilla; 9 Km al S de Santa Cecilia, 700 m, 12 January 1998, (Fr.), C. Moraga 960 (CR!); La Cruz. Santa Cecilia, Estacion Pitilla, Finca Margarita, 700 m, 17 April 1995, (Fr.), M. Moraga 162 (CR!); La Cruz, Santa Cecilia, Finca Guillermo Navarro, 480 m, 24 Febrero 2017, (Fr.), M. Cedeño et al. 1006 (USJ!); Heredia: Sarapiquí, Puerto Viejo, Slopes of eastern spur ridge at N end of Cerros Los Arrepentidos, ca. 4 km NW of Puerto Viejo, 60 m, 3 March 1987, (Fl.), M.H. Grayum et al. 8102 (CR!, MO!); South of Puerto Viejo, 2 km south of Magsasay Penal Colony, west of the road, 200 m, 5 February 1983, (Fr.), N. Garwood et al. 1111 (CR!); Sarapiquí, La Virgen, Cuenca del Sarapiquí, Lomas de Sardinal, ca. 15 km línea recta N de Puerto Viejo, 275 m, 11 January 1997, (Fl., Fr.), B.E. Hammel 20623 (CR!, MO!); Sendero entre el campamento Canta Rana y Río Peje, Magsasay, 400 m, 14 January 1983, (Fl.), I. Chacón 70 (CR!); Sarapiquí, Puerto Viejo, E.B. La Selva, Finca La Selva, Quebrada paralela creciendo sobre un árbol caído, 8 August 1983, (Fl.), I. Chacón 1132 (CR!); North of Puerto Viejo, 10 km down road, then 7–8 km west in forest, 2 February 1983, (Fr.), N. Garwood et al. 848 (CR!, MO!); Sarapiquí, La Virgen, Sarapiquí, La Virgen, Golfito, parcela del señor Miguel Angel Picado, 0 m, 10 December 2005, (Fr.), D. Santamaría 3604 (CR!); Finca La Selva, 80 m m, 22 September 1986, (Fr.), M.H. Grayum 7667 (MO!); Finca La Selva, 100 m, 27 September 1982, (Fr.), T. McDowell 222 (MO!); O.T.S. La Selva Reserve, 100 m, 15 April 1986, (Infer.), T.B. Croat 61217 (MO!); Sarapiqui, Finca La Selva, 100–150 m, 6 January 1978, (Fr.), T.B. Croat 44322 (MO!); Sarapiquí, Horquetas, Estación Biológica La Selva, 50 m, 24 Jumio 2016, (Fl.), M. Cedeño 906 (USJ!); Sarapiquí, La Virgen, Reserva Biológica La Tirimbina, 150 m, 16 April 2016, (Fr.), M. Cedeño & J. Ley 873 (USJ!); Limón: Limón, Valle de la Estrella, Cerro Muchilla, Fila Matama, Entrando por el pueblo, El Progreso, Cordillera de Talamanca, 850 m, 9 April 1989, (Fr.), R. Robles & A. Chacón 2735 (CR!); Pococí, Colorado, R.N. V.S. Barra del Colorado, Forests and pastures between Río Chirripocito and pastures between Río Chirripocito and Río Sardina (”Sardinal” on Chirripó Atlántico quadrangle), 12 m, 21 April 1990, (Fl.), M.H. Grayum 9800 (CR!, MO!); Pococí, Jiménez, Guápiles, Wet forest remnants on the road from Guápiles to the Río Chirripó, 300 m, 7 April 1982, (Fr.), K. Barringer & J. Gómez 2359 (CR!); Pococí, Colorado, P.N. Tortuguero, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Estación Agua Fría, primera loma aproximadamente 6 km al SE. Cerros Azules, 70 m, 23 January 1988, (Fr.), R. Robles 1579 (CR!); Pococí, Colorado, P.N. Tortuguero, Estación Agua Fría; Segunda loma aproximadamente 7 km al sureste, Cerros Azules, 70 m, 21 January 1988, (Fr.), R. Robles 1558 (CR!); Talamanca, Bratsi, Between Cahuita and the oil drilling platforms beyond Suretka, Southern Limón, 200 m, 23 April 1982, (Fl.), K. Barringer et al. 2643 (CR!, MO!); Limón, No georreferenciado, 9 June 1983, (Fr.), K. Barringer 3043 (CR!); Limón, Siquirres, Pacuarito, Forested ridges and slopes between Río Pacuare and Quebrada Diablo, ca. 2.5 km E of Siquirres, 150 m, 5 October 1986, (Fl.), M.H. Grayum et al. 7702 (CR!, MO!); Pococí, Colorado, P.N. Tortuguero, Estación Agua Fría; Segunda loma aproximadamente 7 km al sureste, Cerros Azules, 70 m, 21 January 1988, (Fr.), R. Robles 1553 (CR!); Vicinity El Copé, 5–6 mi N of El Copé, along trail which leads into the lowlands from old Riviera saw works área, 700 m, 8 July 1994, (Fl.), T.B. Croat & G. Zhu 77200 (CR!); Pococí, Guapiles, Guápiles, Bosque Lluvioso, 350 m, 12 October 2005, (Fl.), L. Acosta 3698 (CR!); Pococí, Guapiles, Pococi, along Rio Corinto near Braulio Carrillo-Guapiles HWy, 1 km S of turnoff to Puerto Viejo, 250 m, 30 August 1996, (Infer.), T.B. Croat 78748 (CR!, MO!); Pococí, Guapiles, Guápiles, Finca INBio, Sendero de Las Aves, 300 m, 7 June 2007, (Infer.), A. Soto 1593 (CR!); Pococí, Guapiles, R.B. Bosque Lluvioso, Sendero Los Gigantes, 315 m, 21 February 2008, (Fr.), L. Vargas 3047 (CR!, MO!); Hacienda Tapezco-Hacienda La Suerte, 40 m, 14 March 1978, (Fl.), C. Davidson 6938 (MO!); Talamanca, 7 km SW of Bribrí, 100–250 m, 4 May 1983, (Fr.), L. Gómez 20372 (MO!); Parque Nacional Tortuguero Estación Agua Fría, Aproximadamente 12 Km al Noreste, 80–100 m, 2 March 1988, (Fr.), R. Robles 1672 (CR!, MO!); Finca Montecristo, 25 m, 18 February 1926, (Fr.), P. Standley 48938 (MO!); Finca Montecristo, 25 m, 18 February 1926, (Fr.), P. Standley 48945 (MO!); Finca Montecristo, 25 m, 18 February 1926, (Fr.), P. Standley 49010 (MO!). PANAMA. Darién: Río Balsa between Manene and Guayabo, 07°44’N 077°50’W, 100 m, 08 November 1967, James A. Duke & Norton H. Nickerson 14956 (MO!); Panamá: Cerro Jefe Region; 0.8 mi beyond turn-off to Altos de Pacora (near branch in road to antennas to Cerro Jefe), 09°15’N 079°29’W, 770 m, 4 July 1994, T.B. Croat & G. Zhu 76637 (MO!); San Blas: (Comarca de Kunayala): Nusigandí, El Llano-Cartí Road, 10.1 mi N of Interamerican Hwy, then ca. 0.5 mi N, Paseo Mariska near road, 09°20’N 078°59’W, 300 m, 20 Jul 1994, T.B. Croat & G. Zhu 77026 (MO!). COLOMBIA. Chocó: Bahia Solano. Corregimiento El Valle, carretera entre el puente sobre la quebrada Tundó y el km 7 del Valle-Bahía Solano, 06°21’N 076°26’W, 0 m, 25 Abril 1989, J. Espina et al. 2980 (MO!).

Figures

FIGURE 42. Monstera glaucescens from Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. (A) Developing inflorescence. (B) Inflorescence with open spathe, front and back views. (C) Mature infructescence, stylar plates detaching. (D) Fertile flower; in lateral view (left), and in longitudinal section (right). (E) Stylar plate with stigma (left) and one stamen (right). (F) Sterile flower; lateral view (left), and longitudinal section (right). (G) Seeds. (H) Juvenile plant. (I) Seedling. (J)Adult plant. M. Cedeño et al. 873 (USJ). Image from Cedeño-Fonseca et al. (2022).

FIGURE 43. Monstera glaucescens. Adult plant growing 2 m above the ground in a tree in Guápiles, Costa Rica. Photo by M. Cedeño- Fonseca. (Not collected).