Pineapple : Ananas comosus

Pineapple plant, Big Island, Hawaii

Pineapple Plant
Taxonomy: Plantae: Angiosperms: Monocots: Commelinids: Poales: Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae: Ananas comosus. Common names: Pineapple, Pine Apple,
Pineapple is a common tropical fruit that is often used in tropical drinks, appetizers, desserts, and cooking. It was first named “pineapple” in 1398 to describe the reproductive organs of conifer trees and once European explorers encountered it, they called them “pineapples” based on their resemblance to the pine cone. The use of this reference was first done in 1694. The Pineapple plant grows 1-1.5 meters tall with 30+ trough-shaped/pointed leaves that are usually 30-100 cm long, surrounding a thick stem. It is considered a multiple fruit in that it has multiple, helically-arranged flowers along its axis that produce a fleshy fruit that becomes pressed against the fruits of adjacent flowers, forming what appears to be a single fleshy fruit. These are formed in two interlocking helices, 13 in one direction, and 8 in the other. Its an edible tropical plant native to Paraguay and Brazil. The fruit is most often served fresh, sliced, canned, or as a juice. High in acid content, it bears a sweet and sour taste. It is one of the most commercially important plants that carry out CAM photosynthesis.

Pineapple plant, Kalapana Village, Big Island, Hawaii

History::
Originating in southern Brazil and Paraguay, Pineapple quickly spread throughout S. America onwards to the Caribbean. It was first discovered in the Indies by columbus who brought it to Europe. It became cultivated in Europe by 1720. The Spanish took it to the Phillippines, Hawaii, Zimbabwe, and Guam. Even though it wasn’t introduced to Hawaii until 1813, by 1892 it became a major export out of Hawaii. By 1900, James Dole, started a pineapple plantation in Hawaii, mass exporting it throughout the world, and stands today to be one of the largest growers of pineapples. However, Southeast Asia still dominates the world production of Pineapple.

White Pineapple, Big Island, Hawaii

Culinary:
The juice is often used as a marinade and meat tenderizer. Care should be taken with the preparation of some foods in accompaniement of the pineapple since the enzymes in raw pineapple can interefere with the processing of some foods like jelly or gelatin-based desserts which can be hazardous to people suffering from certain protein defiencies or disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Medicinal/Health:
Pineapple contains Bromelain, the proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins. So the digestion of pineapple is utilized often for brreaking down proteins when the body has a difficult time doing it on its own. It is an excellent source of manganese, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B1. Care with those suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or protein defiencies should avoid using pineapple. Raw pineapples should not be consumed by those with hemophilia or kidney/liver disease as they can reduce the time taken to coagulate a consumer’s blood. Pineapple has show benefits to those with intestinal disorders. Medicinally believed to serve as a pain reliever. Some midwives believe pineapples can help induce labor. The roots and fruit are often eaten or applied topically as an anti-inflammatory and proteolytic agent. Pineapples may be just as effective for reducing osteoarthritis pain as ibuprofen, especially when taken in supplement form. Suggested in this use to eat pineapple between meals, not with them, or the enzymes will be used up digesting your food. Fresh or frozen pineapple is better than canned. Pineapple is also a stomach soother, which can counter irritations caused by arthritis medications. Pineapple can also alleviate mouth sores caused by NSAIDs or methotrexate by dipping pineapple in honey and eating it. Pineapple can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by gout attacks.

Cultivation:
Pineapples are pretty easy to sprout from the top part of the fruit to be cut off and seeded. However for successful growth and fruit, a variety of conditions must be present. In addition, pineapples are subject to a variety of diseases, such as wilt disease caused by mealybugs which attack the fruit from its surface and often found within the closed blossom cups. In addition, pineapple is susceptible to pink disease, bacterial heart rot, and anthracnose. To ship and store pineapple usually incurs some higher than average expense because Pineapples ripen after harvest and require set temperatures for this to occur.They are chill-sensitive and should not be stored in the refridgerator. Ripening occurs at room temperature or higher and can easily over-ripen. This is one of the main reasons they are shipped canned.

Other Uses:

The iconography is often used often in art motives such as woodworking. The leaves are used for textile fibers called pina.Bibliography/References:

• Ketteler, Judi. “Foods that Help Fight Chronic Pain”. July 2009.
• Reader’s Digest. “Food Cures: Breakthrough Nutritional Prescriptions For Everything From Colds To Cancer”. 2007.
• website: http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/pow/pineapple.htm
• website: http://www.plants.am/wiki/Pineapple/
• website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple