| In the Devils garden where delicious monster dwell... | | | | plant likes a warm, moist environment. Nonetheless, |
| There is a tropical plant native to Central America | | | | the Swiss Cheese plant is a popular house plant. |
| which goes by several names. One of the most | | | | Growing this plant is not a hobby for the careless since |
| colorful nicknames is Monstera Delicisiosa or delicious | | | | its sap can be irritating to the skin. Like most house |
| monster. The monstrous part is not hard to figure | | | | plants it should not be over watered. In fact a good |
| out. The unripened fruit of the plant contains oxalic | | | | hint for many indoor plants is to avoid potting soil if you |
| acid. This is reminiscent of the Alien monsters in a | | | | can because it does not drain well. Use something like |
| Sigourney Weaver movie-acid for blood. The delicious | | | | vermiculite. In other words, find something that will not |
| designation comes from the fully matured fruit. When | | | | hold water close to roots and cause them to rot. |
| the fruit of the plant is ready to eat, it is said to smell | | | | Although the Swiss Cheese plant bears seeds it is |
| heavenly and to have a flavor reminiscent of fruit | | | | usually propagated through cuttings. If you want to |
| salad. A mixture of pineapple and banana. Some | | | | see flowers and get fruit from a Swiss Cheese plant, |
| other names for the plant are Mexican Breadfruit and | | | | be prepared to wait for 12 to 14 months. In the wild |
| Locusts and Wild Honey. If you are an adventurous | | | | people wait until the fruit hits the ground to eat it. If |
| eater there may be a delicious monster in your future. | | | | you manage to make the plant fruit in a hot house, |
| Another appellation for the delicious monster is Swiss | | | | wait until kernels of the fruit begin to come off of their |
| Cheese plant. This tropical plant has deeply lobed | | | | own accord. The fruit resembles a long green pine |
| leaves that can grow to be two feet wide and three | | | | cone. You can hasten the ripening of the fruit by |
| feet long. The mature leaves develop naturally | | | | covering it in paper, plastic or aluminum foil and letting it |
| occurring holes throughout the leaf that make it appear | | | | sit out at room temperature. The fruit will ripen from |
| that predation by some ravenous insect is | | | | the bottom up. It does not all ripen at the same |
| occurring. However the holes are natural. These | | | | time. Since some people are allergic or sensitive to |
| holes lead us naturally to yet another name for the | | | | the various components of the fruit, eat at your own |
| plant, namely the hurricane plant. Some folks with a | | | | risk. You might try asking your doctor if he thinks its |
| colorful imagination have speculated that the many | | | | safe for you to eat it. |
| holes in the plant increase its ability to survive a | | | | Some other names for the Swiss Cheese plant are |
| hurricane. | | | | Ceriman, split leaved Philodendron, and Japanese |
| In the wild a Swiss Cheese plant can grow 20 to 30 | | | | Pineapple. |
| feet long. The plant is a member of the Arum family | | | | The Swiss Cheese plant has been cultivated in the |
| and it is an epiphyte or air pant. Such plants tend to | | | | cloud forests of Vera Cruz. In rain forest countries |
| grow on other plants and receive nourishment from | | | | the long roots of the plant are sometimes braided |
| the air, or dead leaves or insects. | | | | together to make ropes or baskets. Snake oil |
| The only way to get fruit from a Swiss Cheese plant | | | | salesmen claim the plant is a cure for arthritis and |
| is to either grow it in the wild or in a hothouse. The | | | | snake bite. |