Native monstera

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tongavine
• variegated-philodendron
• Dragon-tail
• Native Monstera

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhaphidophora caudata
• Philodendron pinnatum
• Pothos pinnatifidus
• Pothos pinnatus
• Pothos caudatus
• Rhaphidophora vitiensis
• Epipremnum mirabile
• Epipremnum robinsonii
• Scindapsus caudatus
• Scindapsus forsteri
• Rhaphidophora dilacerata
• Epipremnum pinnatum f. multisectum
• Rhaphidophora cunninghamii
• Scindapsus dilaceratus
• Epipremnum merrillii
• Scindapsus bipinnatifidus
• Rhaphidophora laciniata
• Scindapsus pinnatifidus
• Tornelia dilacerata
• Epipremnum mirabile f. multisectum
• Rhaphidophora lovellae
• Scindapsus pinnatus
• Philodendron nechodomae
• Rhaphidophora merrillii
• Epipremnum formosanum
• Philodendron dilaceratum
• Epipremnum elegans
• Rhaphidophora neocaledonica
• Epipremnum crassifolium
• Epipremnum mirabile f. eperforatum
• Epipremnum angustilobum
• Monstera dilacerata
• Epipremnum elegans f. ternatensis
• Monstera pinnata
• Rhaphidophora wallichii
• Monstera caudata
• Rhaphidophora pinnata
• Rhaphidophora pinnatifida
• Rhaphidophora rosenburghii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Epipremnum pinnatum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Aliasmaetales. Finally, it is a member of the family Araceae and falls under the genus Epipremnum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in East Asia. In China, its presence is recorded in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Beyond the mainland, it can also be found throughout the Nansei-shoto islands of Eastern Asia. Additionally, the species is naturally distributed across the island of Taiwan. These combined locations highlight its significant range within the subtropical zones of the region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Epipremnum pinnatum is characterized by its adaptability to diverse forest structures and a specific altitudinal distribution. It thrives within various environments, ranging from lush rain forests and dry forests to dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation. This plant occupies an elevational gradient that begins at 100 meters above mean sea level (m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, dry forest, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Genetics

The genetics of Epipremnum pinnatum are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variation across different populations and accessions. Research into its karyotype reveals diverse chromosome numbers, with recorded values including 50, 60, 70, and 74. Despite this variation in total count, the species is fundamentally defined by a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that the genetic framework is based on two sets of chromosomes.

Chromosome number :

50, 60, 70, 74

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Epipremnum pinnatum is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a continuous presence within its ecosystem. As an evergreen species, it does not undergo a period of dormancy marked by leaf shedding, instead maintaining lush, green foliage throughout the year. This combination of a long-term life cycle and constant foliar density enables the plant to steadily climb and colonize various substrates, ensuring its long-term survival and reproductive success in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Epipremnum pinnatum is characterized by its growth as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an obligatory liana. As a hemiepiphyte, it exhibits a complex life cycle that begins in a terrestrial state before transitioning to an epiphytic existence. The plant follows a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to climb through various substrates. It is an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and can reach a significant plant height with a mean measurement of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

hemiepiphyte

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Epipremnum pinnatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in typical tropical environments. The plant exhibits significant morphological potential in its foliage, with leaf length and leaf width both reaching a maximum of 100 cm, allowing for extensive surface area to facilitate light interception. Structurally, the plant does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized water-storing tissues in its leaves or stems, relying instead on consistent moisture availability. Furthermore, Epipremnum pinnatum is not a nitrogen fixer, implying that it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and must instead derive its nitrogen requirements from the surrounding substrate.

Leaf length max:

100 cm

Leaf width max:

100 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Epipremnum pinnatum is characterized by the production of small, white flowers that eventually develop into fruit. The resulting fruit is categorized as a berry, which is indehiscent in nature, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These berries are relatively small, typically ranging in length from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. Each fruit contains a modest number of seeds, generally ranging from 1 to 10 seeds per fruit. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals for distribution, which facilitates the spread of the species within its natural habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Epipremnum pinnatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Chemicals

Epipremnum pinnatum has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, Flavonoids, Glycosides, MAGNESIUM, POTASSIUM.

CALCIUM

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Flavonoids

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Glycosides

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

MAGNESIUM

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

POTASSIUM

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

SODIUM

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Saponins

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Tannins

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Activities

Epipremnum pinnatum has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Anticancer

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Antimicrobial

1. Chinese medicine

Antioxidant

1. Chinese medicine