– How do plants like monsteras make holes in their leaves?

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the one i have has solid leaves except the biggest one im curious

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3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

There are several reasons they could have evolved that way, but the most common conclusion is because of the tropical environments they’re native to. Some plants developed slits and holes to resist wind damage that occurs in hurricane and storms that are common in those parts of the world.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Basically there is one set of chemicals signals telling them to grow the veins, then another set of chemical signals telling them to grow the cross veins, then another set of signals still telling them how to fill it in.

By modifying the timing of the proteins that control when these signals go off, the shape of leaves can change dramatically. You can get one leaf that looks like a normal leaf, one big leaf made of a bunch of little leaflets, or even a leaf with a bunch of little holes in it. In fact, a leaf with holes in it is basically just a compound leaf that is made up of a bunch of distinct leaflets, but the filling in material continues to grow in until it connects.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The plant produces an enzyme that breaks down cellulose in the leaf, which causes the holes.