Pine Apples

Pineapple - Ananas comosus

COMMON NAME
Pineapple

LATIN NAME
Ananas comosus

FAMILY
Bromeliaceae

PARTS USED
Fruit, leaf

DESCRIPTION
The pineapple plant is a perennial that grows about two to four feet tall. The pineapple's reddish yellow fruit has a scale-like surface with a crown of stiff, spiky leaves. Pineapple is the only fruit with a stem that goes from the very top to the very bottom.

HABITAT
The pineapple is originally from South America but can now be found in Cuba, North America, Australia, South Africa and the Philippines.

FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONAL USES
Brazilian tribes consider pineapple very important and use pineapple as a staple food and in their wine-making. Early European explorers took the it home and its unusual appearance and sweetness made it a status symbol. The pineapple fruit symbolized hospitality and friendship in the colonies. Those who were able to present the exotic and expensive pineapple to their guests proved their high social class. Pineapples became so popular in colonial America that you could rent one for the day from a confectioner.

A pineapple enzyme is used to tenderize meat. This enzyme has been characterized as being so acidic that it will remove the fingerprints from commercial pineapple cutters after prolonged exposure. The leaf of some varieties is a source of piña fiber for embroidery thread.

MEDICINAL USES
Pineapples were used in traditional medicine for everything from jaundice to constipation. Sailors on early European explorations who had no fresh fruit on hand escaped scurvy by eating pineapples, which are high in Vitamin C. Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme which can split proteins - Bromelain decreases bleeding time and reduces platelet aggregation. Bromelain is effective in killing parasites like worms.

Where can I buy Bromelain Pineapple?

ZooScape.com has a wide selection of Pineapple tea, capsules and powder.

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