What’s the Hole Truth?

You may know the monstera plant (Monstera spp.) as the “swiss cheese plant” because of its peculiar perforated leaves. Or perhaps you recognize it as the trendy houseplant that often appears in interior design magazines or pops up on Pinterest.

But those holes in its leaves (a feature called leaf fenestration) aren’t for aesthetics. Scientists believe that the pieces could be missing for a purpose, such as to help the plant resist hurricane winds or better allow water to reach the plant’s roots. Due to lack of evidence, these theories have holes of their own. But thanks to computer simulations, there is a new leading theory.

Native to Central America, the tropical monstera plant grows in shadowy rainforests where sunlight is spotty. Scientists now think that the holes in its leaves could allow the plant to conserve energy and nutrients while spreading out farther, increasing its chances of catching some rays.

Researchers hope to test this model in future experiments by seeing if grids of light sensors with holes can catch as much light as grids without holes.

We may not know for sure what exact purpose the monstera’s holes serve, but these not-so-missing pieces remind us of a Creator who never leaves anything out. If God provides for plants, of course he’ll provide for his people.

Article from Answers magazine, v16, n2, April–June 2021, p. 20.