General poisoning notes:

Swiss-cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) is an indoor ornamental. The leaves can cause problems if chewed by humans or family pets. Experimental rats and mice died after they were fed plant extracts (Der Marderosian et al. 1976, Lampe and McCann 1985).

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Mitchell, J. C., Rook, A. 1979. Botanical dermatology. Greenglass Ltd, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 787 pp.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa Liebm.
 

Vernacular name(s): Swiss-cheese plant

Scientific family name: Araceae

Vernacular family name: arum

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Monstera deliciosa

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Image or illustration

Swiss-cheese plant:

Images: images.google.com

Toxic parts:

leaves
 

References:

Der Marderosian, A. H., Giller, F. B., Roia, F. C. 1976. Phytochemical and toxicological screening of household ornamental plants potentially toxic to humans. 1. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1: 939-953.

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

aphonia
blistering
hoarseness
mouth, irritation of
urticaria
 

Notes on poisoning:

Chewing the leaf causes severe pain and irritation, along with blistering and edema of mouth tissue. Hoarseness and loss of voice can also occur. The insoluble oxalates do not cause systemic poisoning in humans (Lampe and McCann 1985). Ingesting the ripened fruit can cause rapidly developing urticaria (hives) in sensitive individuals (Mitchell and Rook 1979). The ripe fruit is edible but is not normally produced indoors in Canada.

References:

Lampe, K. F., McCann, M. A. 1985. AMA Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. American Medical Assoc. Chicago, Ill., USA. 432 pp.

Mitchell, J. C., Rook, A. 1979. Botanical dermatology. Greenglass Ltd, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 787 pp.

Rodents