Monstera << MON stuhr uh >> is any of a group of large, woody vines from tropical America. Monsteras are epiphytes—that is, plants that grow on other plants and make their own food. The most familiar species, commonly known as the Swiss cheese plant, ceriman, or Mexican breadfruit, has become a popular house plant. Its large, wide leaves often have many holes and gaps. People in the tropics eat the ripe fruit of several Monsteras, which smell and taste somewhat like pineapple.
