Pineapple fruit from a biological point of view. Is pineapple a fruit or a berry? Determine where it grows and find out its distribution history

Pineapple is a tropical plant, the belonging of which to one group or another is still debated. But no one can argue with the fact that it contains a large amount of vitamins and useful substances. And people's love for pineapple is simply boundless, this can be judged by the amount of the product imported from abroad.

Where is the pineapple from?

It is believed that pineapple comes from sunny Brazil, as its wild thickets still grow in its open spaces. They gained wide popularity after the travel of Christopher Columbus, who discovered them in Central America on the island of Guadeloupe. It happened in 1493. Since then, the pineapple continues its solemn procession throughout all European countries.

A rare fruit was brought to unusually cold conditions and, oddly enough, bred in greenhouses. IN closed ground pineapple was grown to serve at the royal and imperial tables. There is information that in the XVIII - XIX centuries plants were grown in cold snowy Russia to meet the needs of the yard. Each fruit was worth its weight in gold.

Now pineapples are bred and cultivated in tropical regions such as Australia, North Africa, Hawaii and many others. Thanks to excellent transport links, the fruits come to the table of buyers in abundance.

What does a pineapple look like?

Not everyone knows that pineapple is a perennial herb. Its growth reaches one meter, while the leaves are 80-90 centimeters long. They have thorns on the edges, which is an obstacle when harvesting, which is done by hand.

The fruit is an inflorescence of a large number of small berries. The color of the pineapple is yellow or slightly brownish, at the time of flowering and depending on the variety, it can reach purple. The weight of the fetus can reach fifteen kilograms, and the smallest has only eight hundred grams. Plantations grow five of the most common and productive varieties.

Breeders have developed a type of pineapple with a smooth rind that is very easy to peel. The size of the fruits of this variety is not very large, and the weight is 800 grams.

Is pineapple a vegetable, fruit or berry?

Until now, since the discovery of the plant by Columbus, people have not stopped arguing about what a pineapple is. There are versions that this plant is cereal, as it resembles the usual cultures of this species. A group of people claim that pineapple is a vegetable. As evidence, the argument is given that it grows on the ground.

Indeed, it is interesting to know whether pineapple is a berry or a fruit? There is substantiated evidence for each version. At the time of growth and ripening, pineapple is a lot of small berries collected in one inflorescence. When the plant matures, they turn into one large fruit, reaching five kilograms. However, the question of whether pineapple is a berry or a fruit does not disappear. Because he has no bones. From this, many conclude that the fetus can be a fruit.

In all disputes on the topic, is a pineapple a berry or a fruit, one thing remains unchanged, the plant is truly unique. It never ceases to amaze with new properties discovered by scientists.

What is a pineapple made of?

Pineapple is not just delicious treat for children and adults. It has a lot of useful properties that are hidden in its composition. juicy fruit It is 86% water and 15% sucrose. It contains 0.7 percent citric and 50 percent ascorbic acids. All the most valuable vitamins, such as B1, B2, 12, PP and provitamin A, are present in abundance in every fruit.

In addition to the components presented above, pineapple contains many useful chemical elements. The pulp of the fetus is replete with iron and potassium, which are necessary for the quality work of the heart. And copper, zinc, calcium, manganese and iodine contribute to the overall strengthening and healing of the body. This plant is a storehouse of vitality and health.

Pineapple treatment

All components of the pineapple fruit are necessary for organic work human body Therefore, it should be included in the daily diet of both children and adults. In addition, using it in certain cases, you can avoid unpleasant pain.

For the proper functioning of the digestive system, it is necessary to drink one glass of pineapple juice with meals. This effective remedy is especially useful in case of abundant consumption of meat and fatty foods, which, under the influence of the enzymes that make up the fetus, is digested faster. This helps to avoid indigestion.

Pineapple in dietetics

Pineapple is wonderful diet dish. It can be used without restrictions by anyone who wants to get rid of excess weight. fresh is only 48 kilocalories per hundred grams of product. Calcium contained in the pulp of the fruit helps to remove excess fluid and get rid of extra pounds. Eating pineapple dessert, you can continue to lose weight, as digestion improves when it is consumed. The calorie content of fresh pineapple is a godsend for modern dietology.

In Russia, since the 18th century, exotic overseas fruit has been eaten not only fresh, but also fermented for the winter in tubs, like cabbage. At the same time, the dish was considered a delicacy and piquant.

at home?

Producers and planters in the southern countries can grow pineapples in open field, which they have been doing for many centuries to the delight of customers. In conditions temperate climate this is much more difficult to do, but nothing is real if there is a desire.

You can grow pineapple in a city apartment, creating suitable conditions for it. Since the fruit does not have seeds, it is planted in the form of a rosette or a cut of the top without pulp. This part of the fruit is placed in a pot filled with earth and charcoal. As the top layer, you can use humus mixed with sand.

In order for the plant to take root, it must be kept warm at a temperature of 27 degrees, while covering it with polyethylene. So in a humid warm environment, the sprout should be two months. After that, it is permissible to open it. The first lower shoots that have appeared must be buried.

Water the pineapple with an acidic aqueous solution with lemon juice. The plant should be transplanted annually into pots. large sizes Don't forget to fertilize. With proper care, fruits can be obtained four years after planting.

How to determine the ripeness of the fruit?

Ripe pineapple is very tasty, juicy and fragrant, with various useful properties. But it is necessary to purchase and eat ripened fruits. The green fruit does not have the qualities that are needed.

First of all, an unripe pineapple is very sour, it will be difficult to eat, and subsequently cracks may form in the corners of the lips and in the mouth. This causes unpleasant pain.

Secondly, from the use of unripe pineapple, diarrhea can begin, which will lead to dehydration.

To the question of how to choose a delicious pineapple, you can answer the following: you need to pay attention to the top feathers. If they are easily pulled out, then the fruit is ready to eat.

Buying a pineapple

In order to purchase a really high-quality tropical fruit, you need to know how to choose a pineapple in a store. The following rules will help with this:

• An intact pineapple does not have a characteristic odor when carried from the nose at arm's length. Otherwise, the sellers clearly took advantage of the flavorings. And if you smell the fruit, bringing it to your face, and do not feel a subtle aroma, then this is a stale product that was subjected to “water procedures”. It was simply washed to remove mold and bad smell.
• When buying, you need to examine the pineapple well so as not to purchase a moldy product. It is dangerous to eat it.
• The color of a ripe and tasty fruit should be yellow with a grayish tinge without any green blotches. Greens indicate an unripe fruit, and it is best to avoid eating it.
• Scales should be elastic. A soft fruit can be rotten from the inside, which will spoil the mood of the buyer, given the high cost of the goods.
• The tips of the scales of a ripe pineapple are usually dried up, otherwise it can be concluded that the storage conditions were not met, and this leads to damage to the fruit.
• The tail of a ripe pineapple should sit loose and scroll. In this case, you can be sure of the ripeness of the product.

Knowing these subtleties, one can question how to choose a pineapple in a store, remove it from the agenda and boldly go shopping. But at the same time, it must be borne in mind that throwing out this exotic product is not very profitable, so sellers often go for various tricks.

Canned pineapple

A very popular delicacy among children is compote from exotic fruits. Canned pineapples are sold in tin cans different size.

When buying such a product, it is necessary to pay attention first of all to the expiration date of the product, it should not exceed allowable norms. Usually information of this kind can be found on the cover.

You won’t be able to look inside, so you need to inspect the jar from the outside. Dents and damage indicate poor-quality transportation. In such a case, the product contained in the package could be depressurized and become hazardous to health.

Swollen jars indicate a violation in the preparation and storage process. Most likely, the contents will be sour and fermented, that is, unfit for food. When buying canned pineapples, you need to be very careful not to harm your health.

pineapple cooking

Since pineapple is a very healthy and tasty product, it is an ingredient in many savory and unusual dishes. Culinary delights based on fruit are quite diverse. It is included in salads, desserts and second courses.

Pineapple recipes can be found in cookbooks. The housewives are offered a tasty and fragrant hot dish. It's called Chicken Stuffed Pineapple.

To prepare it, you will need one large fruit, chicken fillet, cheese and seasonings.

Pineapple must be cut lengthwise and the pulp cleaned out of it. Sliced ​​chicken meat is fried on vegetable oil with salt and curry. Before removing from heat, put pineapple slices in the pan and simmer for another three minutes. Grate hard cheese on a coarse grater.

Filling is laid out in pineapple baskets and sprinkled with cheese. Then this culinary preparation is placed on a baking sheet and baked for 15 minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees. It is better to eat the dish hot.

Pineapple recipes are very popular with kids. For little gourmets, you can prepare a fruit salad. You can put a banana, kiwi, apple, seedless grapes and tangerine in it. All fruits and berries are crushed, including pineapple, and mixed. Products are best taken in the same proportions. The resulting mixture is poured with yogurt, mixed and laid out in portions. The dish is prepared quickly and the children really like it.

Pineapple is a wonderful product that not only evokes pleasant emotions from consumption, but also produces a healing effect. This exotic fruit should be included in the diet of every person, as it will help to avoid many health problems.

Pineapple is a herbaceous tropical plant whose fruit looks like an apple and a cone at the same time. Motherland exotic fruit– Brazil.

According to legend, the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus brought pineapples to Europe along with tobacco and potatoes.

Today at English language the term "pineapple" is still used, meaning "pineapple".

General information

Is pineapple a fruit or a vegetable, a berry or a fruit?

This plant is a herb. Some breeders claim that this is a fruit, while they agree that the complex seed is not a berry, vegetable or cereal.

At maturity, the pineapple has a short, mundane stem with stiff, serrated leaves that reach 80 centimeters in length and 150 centimeters in height.

The fruit of a tropical perennial is golden yellow. Depending on the variety, it weighs 2 - 15 kilograms and reaches 10 - 30 centimeters in height. Visually, the inflorescence resembles an oblong cone and consists of many ovaries. From above, the fruit is decorated with a green top.

The exotic fruit tastes sweet and sour, thanks to which it is used in cooking: it is the basis for making salads, pizza, desserts, sweets and jams.

What is the benefit of the fruit?

Pineapple contains a unique enzyme complex - bromelain, which accelerates the breakdown of fats and proteins. In addition, the pulp of an exotic fruit is a storehouse of vitamins, minerals, useful aromatic substances and organic acids.

The fruit has a decongestant effect and has an antibacterial effect. It reduces blood viscosity, prevents the formation of thrombophlebitis and thrombosis, eliminates deposits on the walls of blood vessels, reduces pain in muscles and joints.

Pineapple plantations are concentrated in countries with a subtropical, tropical climate. World leaders in the cultivation of herbaceous plants: Brazil (12.3%), Thailand (11.4%), Philippines (10.9%).

Beneficial features

The nutritional value of ripe fruit is unique. No other fruit has such an interesting composition. Pineapple is a symbiosis of vitamins and trace elements that are vital for the body (see p. " Chemical composition”), so it is rightfully considered a “tropical pharmacy”.

Beneficial features:

1. Lowers arterial pressure, thins the blood, dissolves cholesterol plaques. Improves the condition of patients with atherosclerosis, hypertension.
2. Increases immunity, reduces inflammation of the nasopharynx, facilitates the course of the disease, suppresses coughing, and removes sputum.
3. Improves metabolic processes in the body, improves digestion.
4. Gets rid of calluses.
5. Binds free radicals in the body, prevents the spread of metastases.
6. At varicose veins vein dissolves fibrin plugs.
7. Restores psycho-emotional balance, improves mood, fights stress, energizes.
8. It removes excess fluid from the body, contributing to a person's weight loss.
9. Eliminates increased oiliness of the skin, age spots, prevents inflammation, therefore it is used to care for the neck and face. On the basis of pineapple juice, masks and scrubs are prepared that smooth, refresh the dermis, restore its elasticity, cleanse the pores from the stratum corneum.
10. Moisturizes dry damaged hair, nourishes the scalp.

In addition, the exotic fruit has an anti-cellulite effect, which is why it is often included in body creams: it removes toxins, improves microcirculation in tissues, and destroys body fat.

Pineapple helps in the treatment of:

• arthritis
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• pancreas;
• liver;
• kidneys;
• myocardial infarction;
• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• hearts;
• vessels;
• stomach;
• neurological disorders;
• SARS;
• painful menstruation, complicated menopause in women;
• the exotic fruit has a rejuvenating effect on the human body, inhibits age-related changes, therefore it is of particular value to the elderly.

Chemical composition

Pineapple pulp is 85% water and 15% organic acids (citric, tartaric, malic), monosaccharides (sucrose, fructose, glucose).

In addition, the fetus contains vitamins, macro and microelements, beta-carotene, fiber, bromelain. Despite the high percentage of simple sugars (up to 18%), pineapple is a dietary product. 100 grams of the edible part of the fresh fruit contains 50 kcal, canned - 60 kcal, dried - 357 kcal.

Due to its low energy value, fresh exotic fruit is full of fiber, which instantly suppresses the feeling of hunger. Therefore, the fruit is often used in weight loss diets. The ratio of BJU in pineapple pulp is 0.4: 0.2: 10.6 grams per 100 grams of product.

After conservation, "cone-shaped apples" lose the beneficial enzyme bromelain, which leads to a loss in the nutritional value of the product.

Table number 1 "Chemical composition of pineapple"

Nutrient name	The amount of nutrients in 100 grams of product pulp, milligram
vitamins
	20
	0,3
	0,2
	0,1
	0,08
	0,04
	0,03
	0,005
And
	1250
	321
	93
Rubidium	63
	24
	16
	11
	11
	0,3
	0,01

Interestingly, 100 grams of pineapple contains 49% of daily allowance vitamin C, 310% silicon, 70% magnesium, 6.7% purine bases, 20.6% mono- and disaccharides, 10.9% phytosterols.

The harm of exotic

Given the fact that pineapple is a tropical fruit unusual for the human body, treat it with caution.

It is dangerous to consume it in the following cases:

• with gastritis with high acidity;
• peptic ulcer;
• during the period of bearing a baby;
• people with hypersensitivity of tooth enamel;
• persons prone to allergic reactions.

Remember, a high amount of free organic acids (1.4%) irritates the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, tooth enamel. To avoid the appearance of caries after taking an exotic fruit, rinse your mouth thoroughly. This will help neutralize the aggressive effect of acids on the teeth.

A tropical herbaceous plant is a strong allergen, therefore, it is necessary to give it to children from 6 to 12 years old in small quantities (up to 30-50 grams per day).

What are the benefits and harms of pineapple for pregnant women?

If you eat an exotic fruit with caution, it has a beneficial effect on the body of the expectant mother: it saturates with potassium, magnesium, iron, and organic acids. In addition, he is able to overcome nausea, vomiting during toxicosis. The fruit raises hemoglobin, fights the expansion of the veins of the lower extremities, improves mood, relieves heaviness in the stomach.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, eating pineapple is especially important, because during this period the woman has swelling. With frequent consumption, the fruit can provoke uterine contractions. Unripe cone-shaped fruits have an abortive effect.

A safe dose of pineapple for pregnant women is 200 milliliters of juice or 150 grams of pulp.

Choose only a quality product (see p. Criteria for choosing a pineapple) and keep an eye on the amount eaten, then the beneficial properties of the tropical fruit will be fully revealed.

The greatest value for the human body is a fresh exotic fruit. The canned fruit is devoid of all vitamins, microelements, and the dried one contains a huge amount of sugar, which interrupts reasonable arguments about the benefits of such a product. Do not be tempted by candied fruits, as they are tinted, the number of calories in them goes off scale, and the benefits are zero. As a result, products made from dried pineapple are veiled food debris that clogs the body.

How to clean the fruit?

Some people find it easier to cut the fruit into rings and remove the skin from each circle. At the same time, the middle must also be removed. Others argue that this method of cutting leads to the loss of useful juice. Therefore, they insist that first you need to remove the spiky shell, get the middle with a green cap, then cut the fruit into pieces of the desired size.

Consider effective method Pineapple Peels (Thai):

1. Cut off the lower part of the fruit, put the fruit on a plate with a flat bottom.
2. With a narrow and long knife, with smooth movements from top to bottom, remove the skin in thin slices. As a result, dark eyes will remain on the "body" of the pineapple, do not worry about it.
3. At an angle to the continuous curved lines (diagonally), make cuts with a sharp knife on both sides.
4. Remove the triangular strip, remove the remains of dark spikes from it, exposing the pulp of the fruit. Do this procedure with the rest of the rows of growths.
5. Put the slices on a dish, serve.

How to eat pineapple

You can not combine the intake of the fruit with dairy products, as this will lead to indigestion. Nutritionists recommend eating fruit separately from other foods, while eating pineapple on an empty stomach should be done with caution. It is best to eat the fruit between breakfast and lunch or as an afternoon snack.

Pineapple is added to minced meat, salads, fried vegetables. Compote is made from it, cocktails, smoothies, jams, fruit ice are prepared.

Pineapple diet for weight loss

The composition of the fruit includes the natural proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which promotes the breakdown of proteins into proteins, which has a mild laxative effect that improves digestion. This compound is similar in its action to pepsin and trypsin, the lack of which disrupts the process of processing and assimilation of proteins, which can lead to the accumulation of extra pounds.

Bromelain compensates for the deficiency of essential enzymes in the human body, preventing the development of obesity. In addition, pineapples have a diuretic effect and block the center of hunger. As a result, appetite control becomes easier.

To cleanse the body, nutritionists recommend spending pineapple fasting days once a week. During the day, you should limit yourself to taking exotic fruits and herbal teas. To do this, peel the pineapple, cut into four equal parts, which you eat throughout the day. Drink between meals clean water, fruit decoctions (from apples, plums), herbal teas (from corn stigmas, hellebore, bardakosh, senna, chicory).

Pineapple fasting day will help get rid of 0.5 to 1 kilogram of excess weight. If you need to eliminate 2 kilograms, extend the diet for 2 to 3 days. This method weight loss is contraindicated in people with high acidity of gastric juice, peptic ulcer.

After each intake of a tropical plant, the oral cavity must be rinsed with water, otherwise the fruit juice will corrode the enamel of the teeth.

Pineapple with vodka for weight loss - is it a super effective remedy or a waste of money?

Tropical fruit tincture is an economical way to quickly lose weight that does not require significant effort and investment. The tool activates the digestion of food, removes excess fluid from the body.

The recipe for the elixir of harmony:

1. Take a quality ripe pineapple, wash, cut off the bottom and top with leaves.
2. Cut into 4 - 6 pieces without peeling, place in a blender bowl, chop.
3. Transfer the resulting mass to glass jar, pour half a liter of vodka, cover, put in a cool dark place (refrigerator, cellar) for seven days.
4. After a week, strain the composition. Throw away the cake, everything nutrients he has already given.

Take pineapple tincture twice a day, half an hour before meals, a tablespoon (15 milliliters). The weight loss course is three weeks. During this period, you can get rid of 8 to 10 extra pounds. This course is allowed to be held no more than three times a year.

Contraindications to the use of pineapple tincture for weight loss:

• pregnancy;
• lactation period;
• having an allergy to fruit;
• gastritis, stomach ulcer;
• cardiovascular problems;
• nervous disorders;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• alcoholism;
• diabetes;
• hypotension.

Pineapple Selection Criteria

Before buying an exotic fruit, pay attention to the following parameters:

• ripeness (skin color on spherical sections and at the base should be light golden yellow).
• freshness (the surface of a quality fruit is hard, with moderately strong pressure it is slightly pressed through).

There is an opinion that the indicator of pineapple ripeness is the ease of pulling the leaf from the top. Actually this is a myth. The easier the leaf is pulled out, the longer the fruit lies on the shelves of the store, which indicates the staleness of the product.

Remember, pineapple unlike mango, bananas do not become ripe in time.

The fruit should ripen naturally, only in this case it has a sweetish taste, orange-yellow color, without green veins, a flat surface of the “eyes” of the cone, a dark skin and emits a pleasant aroma. The tail of a ripe pineapple goes in one bunch, has smooth green edges, no more than two lengths of the fruit (usually 10 centimeters).

If there are soft areas on the spheres where the skin is discolored, wrinkled, the juice leaks, a vinegar smell has formed at the base, the top leaves have dried up and acquired Brown color, such a fruit is spoiled and cannot be eaten.

Output

Pineapple is a healthy and nutritious exotic fruit that burns stored fats, improves the absorption of dairy products, fish, meat and legumes.

The fruit satisfies the feeling of hunger, promotes the process of losing weight, saturates the body with vitamins and minerals. To keep the pineapple fresh, it is recommended to buy it on the planned day of its use.

You can store the fruit only at seven degrees Celsius. If the temperature is higher, fermentation will begin, if the temperature is lower, the pulp will become super watery, the color will fade. When buying a pineapple, make sure that the integrity of the skin is not broken, the fruit has a golden yellow color, and the leaves are green.

A pineapple ( lat. Ananas - genus of evergreens tropical plants families Bromeliaceae (Bromeliaceae).

Unlike most plants of the bromeliad family, pineapple is not an epiphyte and in nature does not grow on other plants, but in the ground, receiving both water and nutrients from the earth.

Pineapple comes from Brazil, and it came to Europe at the end of the 18th century. After 30 years, the British for the first time managed to get pineapple fruits in a greenhouse, and since that time it began to be grown everywhere in greenhouses along with oranges - as a favorite dessert of rich people. Horticultural books published in the 19th century detailed how the pineapple was cultivated. At the end of the 60s, commercial export of pineapples from the Azores arose, where this plant began to be grown on an industrial scale, and interest in indoor breeding faded. In 1553, the first description of pineapple is mentioned in the book "Chronicle of Peru" by Cies de Leon.

A pineapple- it's herbaceous perennial with a strongly shortened stem and dense rosette of leaves. The leaves are rigid, linear, xiphoid, 50-120 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, serrated at the edges, prickly. Mature plants can grow up to 1 meter high and up to 2 meters in diameter. A fleshy stem grows from the basal rosette of leaves, on top of which a peduncle up to 30-60 cm long is formed. The inflorescence is spike-shaped, ending at the top with a "sultan" - a rosette of small bracts. It is this fetal rosette that can be seen on pineapple fruits, which are sold in stores. The spike-shaped inflorescence has more than a hundred greenish-white or slightly purple inconspicuous flowers. Each flower is covered with a red or green bract. Flowering is long, about one month. At the beginning, flowers bloom at the bottom of the inflorescence, then - adjacent to them, and so on to the top. Infructescence formed after the fertilization of numerous flowers of the inflorescence, according to appearance resembles a large fleshy golden pine cone yellow color. Thus, the pineapple fruit is a composite fruit, consisting of many ovaries fused with bracts and the axis of the inflorescence. The infructescence has a cylindrical, conical or ellipsoidal shape. Top covered with scales.

The peel and core of the fruit are inedible. Formation and ripening of fruits lasts 90-200 days. During the year they can harvest 2-3 crops. Sweet and sour, very juicy and fragrant seedless fruits of cultivar pineapple weigh from 800 g to 3.6 kg, in rare cases up to 15 kg. Fruit size varies greatly depending on variety and growing conditions. Pineapple fruits contain vitamins A, B, C, 11-12% sugars, 0.5% organic acids, etc.

Pineapple is consumed fresh and canned (most often in own juice). For processing, fully ripe fruits are used. Jam is made from it, sweets, juices, wine are made. Waste for the preparation of canned food and juices is used for the production of alcohol and vodka products, as well as the enzyme bromelain. Fiber is obtained from the leaves of some types of pineapple. Because of the wonderful fruits in many tropical and subtropical countries, crested pineapple (Ananas comosus) is cultivated.

In the tropical regions of America: Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia, 8 species of pineapple grow; widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres. The leading areas of pineapple production are the Hawaiian and Azores, as well as the Philippines, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, and Guinea. Plantations in India expanded significantly. In Russia, pineapples can be grown in greenhouses. There are 4-6 species in greenhouse collections, 2-3 species are used in room culture. The largest pineapple plantations are concentrated at the beginning of the 21st century in the Hawaiian Islands (about 30% of world production)

It is currently cultivated - at home as a purely ornamental plant, and if a small fruit appears on it - this is an additional reward to the owner.

Types of pineapple

. Synonym: Pineapple pineapple (Ananas ananas), Pineapple duckei (Ananas duckei), Pineapple seed (Ananas sativus), Pineapple seed diff. duckey (Ananas sativus var. duckei), Pineapple bromeliad (Bromelia ananas), Large crested bromeliad (Bromelia comosa).

This is a terrestrial plant with a strongly shortened stem and a rosette of rigid linear xiphoid leaves, in adulthood it has a height of 1 m and a diameter of 2 m. The leaves are gray-green, grooved, strongly narrowed towards the top, covered entirely with scales, seated at the edges with sharp spikes. The flowers are bisexual, 8 cm long, 4 cm wide, spirally arranged in simple dense spike-shaped inflorescences, where they sit in the axils of wide cup-shaped bracts. Petals 1.2 cm long, pinkish-purple, sepals do not grow together, prickly along the edge. After the end of flowering, a compact golden-yellow fruit is formed. The main axis continues to grow, and a shortened vegetative shoot, the “sultan”, is formed at the top of the seed. Blooms in March-April, July, December; fruit maturation lasts 4.5-5 months. Native to Brazil, found on open places, forest edges, in sparse herbage. In Europe in culture since 1650.

There is the most striking form of variegatus, which is distinguished by its smaller size and white longitudinal stripes along the edges of the leaves.

. The most beautiful view. Leaves up to 70-90 cm long, elongated, with sharp spikes, gray-green or green with a pinkish tinge and a yellow border. Compact infructescence, resembling a cone, consisting of many ovaries fused with bracts and the axis of the inflorescence. The fruits are pink in color. It bears fruit mainly in the summer-autumn period, but very rarely in room culture.

The plant should be protected from direct sunlight. When watering, it is better to use soft water.

Pineapple dwarf (Ananas nanus) . Synonym: Pineapple pineapple diff. dwarf (Ananas ananassoides var. nanus) . This is a new dwarf variety with 20-30 cm leaves.

Lighting. Pineapple is a light-loving plant, all year round it needs good lighting. Optimal for it is suitable for placement near south-facing windows. An indicator of sufficient illumination of a pineapple is the bluish color of old leaves and the reddish tips of young ones; the plant grows dense, strong, its leaves do not fall apart to the sides. In winter and cloudy days, it is advisable to illuminate with fluorescent lamps for 8-10 hours at a distance of about 20 cm.

Temperature. The optimum air temperature for pineapple in the summer is about 22-30°C. In the autumn-winter period, not lower than 18°C. In winter, in order to avoid damage to the plant by the hot air flow emanating from the radiators central heating, pots with pineapples are set in wide pallets with wet sand.

Watering. In summer, the plant is abundantly watered with soft water. room temperature. In hot weather, water can be poured into the rosette of leaves, but if the air temperature drops below 20 ° C, then the water from the rosettes should be removed. In winter, watering is reduced, if the air temperature drops to 15 ° C, then watering is reduced and completely stopped in order to avoid rotting of the plant.

Pineapple tolerates dry air well, so it does not need additional spraying.

Fertilizer. Fertilizers are applied in spring and summer. It is best to use organic and mineral fertilizers alternately, applying them every 2-3 weeks.

The soil. soil mixture for growing pineapple, they are made up of: 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of soddy, 1 humus and 1 sand or from semi-rotted leaves, fibrous peat, rotten, lumpy soddy soil, taken in equal parts. Pineapples need acidic soil pH 4-5. Good drainage is necessary for pineapple; containers for growing pineapple must be taken wide and low, since root system pineapple is superficial.

Reproduction. Pineapples breed different ways: seeds, cuttings, children, root shoots.

Pineapple seeds are small, 1.5 x 4.0 mm in size, yellow-brown, sickle-curved. They are extracted from well-ripened fruits, washed in a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate and dried in air. The substrate for sowing seeds can be leafy soil, coniferous soil, or a mixture of equal parts of peat soil and sand. In this case, the seeds are immersed in the soil to a depth of 1-2 cm, watered with settled water and covered with a transparent film or glass on top.

Sowing is placed in a very warm room (the temperature should not fall below 20 ° C). The rate of emergence of the first shoots depends on the temperature in the room. At a temperature of 20-24°C, seed germination occurs after a month and a half, at 25-27°C - after 20-25 days, and at 30-35°C, the first shoots appear after 15-20 days. Pineapple seeds germinate unfriendly, at different times. So, the germination of some seeds can take 5-7 or more months.

Seedling care comes down to regular watering and spraying. Fertilizer watering is applied twice a month with a solution of mineral fertilizers or bird droppings at the rate of 15-20 g per liter. On hot days, young plants shade from the sun.

When the leaves reach 6-7 cm, the seedlings dive into a loose substrate. It is prepared from equal parts of leaf, sod, peat, humus soil and sand with the addition of a small amount (about 5% of the total substrate volume) of charcoal. In addition, plants must be gradually accustomed to drier air, systematically opening the film cover.

Can be cut into cuttings fruitless shoots, which often develop under the inflorescence, and the supracartilaginous rosette of leaves, which is cut along with the top of the fruit.

To propagate pineapple with a rosette, you need to choose a fruit with a well-developed bunch of leaves and cut off the top 2.5 cm thick from it. The pulp should be cut off, leaving only a bunch of leaves on a fibrous cylindrical core. Sections on the cuttings are treated with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, and then with charcoal powder. After that, the cuttings are dried for 2 days in a dark and dry place. Planted in a substrate of equal parts of leaf, peat soil and sand with the addition of charcoal. Planted cuttings are cultivated under glass or film at a temperature of 22-24 ° C and good lighting. Rooting of cuttings under such conditions usually occurs within 1.5-2 months, at a higher temperature, rooting occurs faster. They are left under a transparent cover for some more time, and when the growth of new leaves intensifies, it is removed, the seedlings are often sprayed with water.

Pineapple can also be propagated by basal children. Side shoots and basal offspring are carefully broken out after they have reached a length of at least 20 cm. Basal offspring often already have their own roots. The cut is sprinkled with crushed charcoal and allowed to dry for 5-7 days in a cool, ventilated place. To improve the formation of roots in coal, it is good to add a stimulant (heteroauxin) as well. Root cuttings only when the cuts are healed. After that, basal rosettes are planted in a substrate composed of two layers: a three-centimeter layer of soddy soil is poured onto the bottom of the pot, and a substrate consisting of one part of leafy soil, one part of humus and two parts of sand is poured on top. Or coarse washed and calcined sand, fine expanded clay or gravel, broken brick or cuttings, perlite mixed with long-staple peat. Sometimes the cuttings are rooted immediately in a loose soil mixture for young plants mixed with coarse sand.

The optimum air temperature for the rooting of children is 22-26 ° C, but at the same time, lower heating must be provided so that the temperature of the substrate is not lower than 25 ° C. To increase the humidity, the stalk is covered with a jar or a transparent bag. To do this, stick 3-4 sticks around the cutting between the leaves and cover it with a plastic bag so that the leaves do not touch it. The edges of the bag are pulled together with an elastic band if rooting occurs in a pot. In this case, water droplets will not flow down the leaves, which can cause the cuttings to rot, but along the inner wall of the bag. The plant needs to create optimal conditions: bright diffused light (but not direct sunlight), high humidity and heat, substrate temperature not lower than 25 ° C. At home, it can be heated with fluorescent lamps, or fluorescent lamps, or simply from a central heating battery.

At favorable conditions roots appear within months. During this period, it is necessary to monitor the humidity of the substrate, it is important not to overmoisten or overdry it, to systematically ventilate the plants, removing the bag or jar daily for several minutes. The first sign of rooting is the appearance of new light green leaves in the center.

For planting a plant that has given roots, a shallow bowl is used, since the root system of the pineapple is wide and superficial, the roots do not go deep into the soil. A large shard is placed at the bottom with the concave side down or pieces of aluminum wire are laid (you can use plastic or polyethylene gratings). The 2/3 bowl must be filled with drainage. Good drainage and a loose substrate contribute to the development of roots and prevent waterlogging and acidification of the soil during the cold season. Rooted young plants are transplanted into pots filled with a substrate consisting of 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of turf, 1 humus and 1 sand. They are kept in warm and bright rooms with a temperature of at least 25°C (optimal - 28-30°C).

Bloom. Pineapple blooms in the 3-4th year (when the length of the leaves reaches about 60 cm, and the diameter of the base is about 10 cm), but sometimes much later, or even does not bloom at all. Acetylene water can be used to stimulate flowering. To do this, dissolve a piece of carbide (15 g) in a liter jar of water. After the end of gas evolution, the solution must be carefully filtered and stored in a refrigerator in a tightly closed jar (so it does not lose its properties for 2 days). A quarter cup of liquid at room temperature is poured into the center of the outlet, where the growth point is located. The next day, the procedure is repeated. Stimulation is possible only in adult plants and in the warm season. After 1.5-2 months, a reddish-red peduncle should appear from the center of the outlet. With a lack of light, it may have a light green color. At this time, it is necessary to maximize the lighting and increase the content of phosphorus and potassium in top dressing by reducing the proportion of nitrogen.

Precautionary measures

Crested pineapple can cause contact dermatitis.

Possible difficulties

Pale leaf color. The reason may be the lack of lighting. Adjust the lighting, on cloudy days, backlighting with fluorescent lamps is necessary.

The rosette of leaves is loose and falls apart to the side. The reason may also be a lack of lighting.

The tops of the leaves turn brown and dry out. The reason, most likely, is insufficient humidity in the room. Spray the plant and increase the humidity in the room.

The plant rots at the base. The likely cause is waterlogging of the soil, and the room is too cold. Move the pineapple to a warmer and better ventilated area, dry the ground a little. If the rot spreads higher, the plant will die. Another cause of rot can be uncut top pulp that you planted in the ground when propagating pineapple tops.

Damaged

Macronutrients in pineapple:

Tags: How to grow pineapple

Delicious tropical fruit has a huge number of fans. It is eaten fresh, canned, the fruit is added to dishes and eaten, excluding additives. But not many people know about the features of this fruit. How pineapple grows, what useful properties it has, etc. will be discussed in this article. In order to make the most of the properties of the fruit, as well as plant it at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the information about the types, usefulness and harm. A pineapple plantation will seem like an interesting, profitable and rewarding investment.

How do pineapples grow?

The fruit is a herbaceous plant. Given the fact that average weight pineapple varies from 300 g to 3 kg per various types, it is quite difficult to imagine a grassy stem with such a fruit. But the fruit will not grow on thin stems. The stems of the plant are wide, able to withstand the load of the formation, with them the plant looks more like a shrub in size. The stem is not tall, strong, and the pineapple leaves are distinguished by the content of a sufficient amount of water, which is absorbed during precipitation and is used to saturate the fruit during a drought. Houseplants, on the other hand, need a plentiful watering regime.

In order to grow a fruit, you need a sprout or leafy top of the plant (the green part), which quickly gives roots. The ascent of sprouts planted with the help of seeds will be longer. How do pineapples of this origin grow? Months after planting, the fruit will grow, an inflorescence will form at the top (the flower is not demanding, its care is simple). Pineapple inflorescence - a large number of flowers that, when turned into berries, combine and form what already resembles a fruit from a store. At this stage, the plant can reach 150 cm in height, and the leaves with thorns - 70 cm in length.

When the fruit is ripe, the plant is ready to work on a new fruit, the leaves are replenished with side shoots, which will serve as the basis for vegetative propagation. The plant is a perennial, designed to ripen two fruits. After the first harvest, there will be a second, and after the second time the fruit is obtained, the pineapple field is uprooted, new shoots are planted in the ground. After the second harvest, the plants are uprooted due to the end of the fruitful period.

Interesting facts about the plant: when flowering, it should not be pollinated, otherwise seeds appear in fruits in one plant, and such a fruit will no longer be eaten. But where fruits grow without human intervention, fruits with seeds are to the taste of some animals.

With all its appearance, the fruit speaks of tropical places of growth. It has fleshy leafy shoots, a strong stem, a protective shell that defines the color of the pineapple as brown-gold on the outside. Since the environment suitable for the growth of the fruit is exceptionally hot, with a lot of sunlight and warm, where pineapples are grown, a tropical climate prevails. These countries are:

• Thailand
• Philippines
• Costa Rica
• Brazil

At home, growing an exotic fruit takes place in a place that is well lit. Plant care in a tropical climate is characterized by the frequency of watering, preferably warm water. The plant loves high air temperature, so it should grow in a greenhouse and in an apartment, a room or greenhouse should have a temperature above 15 degrees.

Landing with your own hands (the technique allows you to do this quickly and correctly) is of interest to many. It turns out that it is so easy to grow a fruit! Planting and care is not difficult. First you need to take the top of the plant and send it to the water for a few days. When the growth rate of the root part increases and the root is of sufficient length, we use it for planting on the site.

Kinds

There are 6 types of plants, each of which has its own characteristics. Varieties of pineapples are derived due to the presence of certain characteristics in their representatives. The methods of their cultivation are also shown in the table of varieties. The views will tell about common features plants.

1. Ananas nanus is a wild plant with long leaves and a stem height of up to a meter. The fruit tastes sweet, contains brown pits.
2. Pineapple bract (Ananas bracteatus). Originally from tropical America, this species is characterized by an outstanding color of leaves in three colors: stripes of white and yellow on a green leaf. The scorching sun colors them in various shades red over time. The locals use the bract as home plant, on which fruits suitable for consumption as food appear from time to time.
3. Real pineapple is the well-known large-tufted pineapple. It can be found in every supermarket in every country. This species is grown in Hawaii, as well as in Thailand, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Brazil. It grows on a stem up to 150 cm in height. The answer to the question, how much does a pineapple weigh on average, is this: 1-5 kg ​​(it all depends on the variety). And 86 percent of this mass is water, everything else is sucrose, citric acid and vitamin C.
4. Pineapple shiny - unfit for human consumption, has red-brown-green leaves without thorns. The fruits are not large, the inflorescences are purple in color.
5. Pargvazensky pineapple is a rare species, the distinguishing feature of which is the size of the fruit. This is the so-called mini pineapple, which is not used for trading purposes.
6. Ananas sagenaria is a fruit that tropical Americans use to make wine and also use the plant as an ornamental. This species is similar to the species called "crested pineapple", which is sold in stores in our country. The fruits of the first are distinguished by a lower content of sucrose and a characteristic sour taste.

vitamins

The benefits of eating a large berry depend on what vitamins the pineapple contains. And the exotic fruit is distinguished by the presence of B vitamins (1,2,5,6,9,12), vitamin PP, A (provitamin) and E. The high content of vitamin C in pineapple. Beta-carotene is available in small quantities.

The chemical composition of pineapple

In addition to the considered vitamin elements, the composition is distinguished by the presence of micro- and macroelements, among which are: potassium (the largest part), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, sodium (the smallest part).

15% of the composition is accounted for by fructose, sucrose and glucose. These 15 percent also include acid, which in pineapple is represented by citric tartaric and malic. Fruit from the tropics is considered useful due to the fact that it contains fiber (it improves digestion) and bromelain (it breaks down protein and prevents inflammation). The latter substance is not preserved in canned fruits.

BJU pineapple:

100 grams of fruit contains 0.4 grams of protein, 0.2 grams of fat. Pineapple contains a lot of carbohydrates. They account for 10.6 g per 100 g of product.

How many calories in pineapple

In the "exofruct" in its various forms, which arise from fraud with the preparation of fruit, it varies from 50 kcal in 100 grams of fresh fruit to more in dried or canned pineapple. The calorie content in canned pineapple reaches 78 kcal. For one hundred grams of dried pineapple, the calorie content is 92 kcal.

Thus, fresh fruit is a product with least amount calories.

What is useful pineapple

The composition of the exotic fruit allows it to be used as a product that prevents certain diseases. It is also popular to use it in the diet of people who follow the figure and health in general, who know how pineapple is useful for the human body. People tend to consume fruit in connection with the following properties.

The medicinal properties of pineapple are manifested in any type of product (fresh fruit, canned, juice from it, etc.). The main medicinal property is its effect on the digestive system. Bromelain, which was found in the fruit, breaks down protein and makes the process of digestion easier. Therefore, it is recommended to eat a piece of goodies or drink a glass of pineapple juice after a meal. Fresh pineapple exhibits this property, the benefits and harms of which are equated with the benefits of pineapple juice. Canned fruit, for example, no longer has this property.

The presence of fiber also has a positive effect on the digestive system. Digestion occurs with its help seamlessly.

Eating useful product leaves a mark on the work of the cardiovascular system. The effect is manifested in the strengthening of blood vessels under the action of bromelain, as well as its prevention of the formation of blood clots. Bromelain is a protection against the formation of inflammatory processes, including tonsillitis, pneumonia, etc. The fruit will act as an anti-inflammatory agent, as well as strengthen the heart vascular system if taken on an empty stomach. After eating, the tropical fruit exhibits a protein-burning property.

What is useful pineapple for women

The benefit of the product for women is the ability to alleviate the condition of a woman during menstruation. If menstruation is painful and plentiful, the mood is changeable and there is nervous tension, it is necessary to eat fresh fruit or juice.

Fruit pulp has a special effect on the skin. Women have learned to use the fruit for their own purposes. It rejuvenates the skin, if present in masks, and also prevents the appearance of inflammatory processes on the skin in the form of acne, etc. The benefits of pineapple for women are also manifested in the generating properties: wounds, scratches heal, calluses go away.

The benefits and harms to the body are due to the presence of useful substances, as well as irritants.

Are canned pineapples healthy?

Canned fruits are common all over the world. Banks with the image of exotic fruits look very presentable, and most importantly, appetizing. But are they really?

Yes, they are useful if the fruit is canned in its own juice. If the preservation is made in sugar syrup, then the product becomes less useful. The amount of sugar increases, which means that the calorie content increases, besides, bromelain is destroyed during conservation, respectively, there will be no such easy digestion, and there will be no benefit for the cardiovascular system.

Preservatives, which are present in every canned product, pose a danger to the body of pregnant women and young children. Also, people with allergies should look closely at the composition of canned fruits.

Harm of pineapple

What is the harm of pineapple on the human body? In fact, pineapple has many more beneficial properties than harmful ones. The main harm is caused due to the fact that the composition of the fruit is characterized by a large amount of acid. People with high acidity, diseases associated with this, it is not desirable to eat a tropical delicacy. For those whose diagnosis has not yet been confirmed, but there are suspicions of hyperacidity, even pure pineapple juice should be avoided. It is recommended to dilute it. The same applies to the use of pineapple juice by young children.

The fruit also has a negative effect on the tooth coating. The acid attacks the human tooth enamel, so after the product has been eaten, it is necessary to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth.

There is evidence that pregnant women with constant eating of a product containing acids can lose their unborn child.

The core of a pineapple is not considered edible. But the answer to the question "Why not eat the core" is very simple. She is not poisonous. The core is a very rough part of the fruit, it can cause damage oral cavity. And then the acid contained in it will penetrate the micro-wounds and become an irritant.

But such a core, rough and tasteless, is inside old fruits, if the fruit is young, accordingly, it has not only juicy pulp, but also a core.

(storing moisture), covered with a thick epidermis. Under the epidermis is a layer of large cells of water-storing tissue, where moisture accumulates during the rainy season. Inside the leaf is a network of air channels surrounded by chlorophyll-bearing cells. Thus, gas exchange processes in pineapple can occur even with closed stomata.

Distribution and ecology

Significance and application

Pineapple fruit is a valuable food product. Thanks to the complex of biologically active substances, pineapple has useful properties: it stimulates digestion, sanitizes the intestines, and reduces blood viscosity.

Application:

In case of indigestion: to increase the enzymatic activity of gastric juice during meals, it is recommended to drink a glass of pineapple juice or eat a fresh slice of fruit. This is especially useful when eating a large meal, eating a large amount of fiber, meat. A glass of pineapple juice will relieve nausea during an air flight or travel by sea.

If overweight: pineapple is a low-calorie food, 100 g of the fruit contains only 48 kcal. The high content of potassium salts will help get rid of excess fluid and several kilograms of weight. Pineapple dessert will enhance the digestion of fat and improve the metabolism in the body.

For thrombosis and edema: drink 200-250 ml of pineapple juice daily or eat half a fresh pineapple.

For calluses: Apply the pulp of pineapple to the area of ​​callus at night, then steam the skin into hot water then remove the corn. The procedure can be repeated.

Cosmetic mask: for oily skin, it is useful to wipe it with a fresh slice of pineapple.

It must be remembered that pineapple is a spicy product and it is not recommended to use it for stomach diseases.

There are numerous strong fibers in the leaves, which is why pineapple is also used as a spinning crop.

Chemical composition

Pineapple pulp is 86% water, it contains quite a lot of simple sugars (12-15 mg%), represented mainly by sucrose, organic acids (0.7 mg%) - the advantage of citric acid, and up to 50 mg% ascorbic acid. In addition, pineapple contains vitamins B1, B2, B12, PP, provitamin A.

Fruit pulp is rich minerals- potassium (up to 320 mg%), iron, copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iodine.

The largest pineapple plantations are concentrated at the beginning of the 21st century in the Hawaiian Islands (about 30% of world production).

Pineapple fruit is depicted on the modern coat of arms of Jamaica, and the coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda

Agricultural technology

In order to induce flowering, acetylene is widely used, obtained by mixing water and calcium carbide. This mixture is poured in a small amount into the axils of the upper leaves of the rosette. The released acetylene acts as a flowering stimulator, and as a result year-round production of pineapples has become possible. Pineapple is a very labour-intensive crop requiring abundant fertilization and manual harvesting. The latter requires plantation workers to take various precautions, as the whole plant is extremely prickly.

For propagation of pineapple, shoots arising from axillary buds are used. The "tuft" of the seed can be cut and rooted, since the growth point is preserved.

see also

• Real pineapple - a plant whose seedlings are commonly called simply "pineapples"

Notes

Links

• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• A pineapple: information on the site GRIN(English) (Retrieved November 16, 2009)

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

Synonyms:

See what "Pineapple" is in other dictionaries:

a pineapple- a m. ananas, German. Pineapples. 1. Tropical herbaceous plant with large juicy, fragrant fruits in the form of a cone. ALS 2. Among other things that are found in his garden, the American pineapple is worthy of surprise due to the ordinary fruit. Schumacher... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

The king of tropical fruits, pineapple, which flaunts everywhere in shop windows, has long been no wonder even for residents of the northern regions. A juicy berry in a luxurious scaly attire is in special demand in winter time of the year. And no wonder. After all… … Culinary Dictionary

- (Malay ananas, or nanas). Aromatic fruit imported from Peru and now cultivated throughout Europe in greenhouses. Dictionary foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. PINEAPPLE small. ananas or nanas. A well-known… … Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

A pineapple- A pineapple. Fetus. PINEAPPLE, a genus of perennial herbs (bromeliad family). 8 species, in tropical America. Juicy large (up to 15 kg) sweet and sour fragrant seedlings are edible. Cultivated since antiquity in tropical countries, mainly in Hawaiian ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

A pineapple- Pineapple in a dream is a wonderful sign! Circumstances will turn out extremely favorable for you. If in a dream you pick pineapples or eat them, success awaits you in the very near future. If you dreamed that you pricked your finger with a pineapple thorn, ... ... Big universal dream book

Husband. American plant and fruit of Ananassa sativa, confined to our greenhouses. This pineapple is not about you, instead this kvass. Pig (rotten) snout sniffs pineapples. Pineapple Pineapple jam, ice cream. Pineapple color, smell. Pineapple, ... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

a pineapple- pineapple, genus. pl. pineapple (not recommended pineapple) … Dictionary of pronunciation and stress difficulties in modern Russian

A PINEAPPLE- the fruit of a tropical perennial herbaceous plant. The fruit has a thick rind with "scales" that change from dark green to golden orange as the fruit ripens. Weight ranges from 0.5 to 2 kg, reaching in some cases 5 kg. ... ... Brief Encyclopedia household

a pineapple- real. Pineapple (Ananas), a genus of herbaceous plants of the bromeliad family. 5-6 species, in tropical America. In culture - A. real (Ananas comosus, formerly Ananas sativus), whose homeland, perhaps, the Parana-Paraguay basin. ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "Latin America"

PINEAPPLE, a genus of perennial herbs (bromeliad family). 8 species, in tropical America. Juicy large (up to 15 kg) sweet and sour fragrant seedlings are edible. Cultivated since antiquity in tropical countries, mainly in Hawaiian and Philippine ... Modern Encyclopedia

A genus of herbs in the bromeliad family. 5 species, in tropical America. Juicy, large (occasionally up to 15 kg), sweet and sour, fragrant seedlings are edible. Cultivated since antiquity, mainly in the tropics. Fiber is obtained from the leaves of some pineapples ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary