Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Nanas or Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a species of tropical plant in Bromeliaceae, low habitus and grows up to 1.5 m, annual herb, has about 30 or more leaves that are long, hard and waxy, spiny and sharp-pointed, arranged in a rosette and surrounding thick stem.

Pineapple fruit as sold by people is not a true fruit, but a combination of up to 200 true flowers that can be seen from every 'scales' on the skin which are combined together with cob (spadix) or compound interest into a large 'fruit'.

Hummingbird is a natural pollinator for this plant, although various insects also have a similar role. The A. comosus cultivated by people has lost the ability to reproduce sexually, but they develop young plants using the 'crown' part of the fruit as a means of vegetative propagation.

Raw pineapple pulp is 86% water, 13% carbohydrates, 0.5% protein, and contains negligible fat (table). In a 100-gram reference amount, raw pineapple supplies 50 calories, and is a rich source of manganese (44% Daily Value, DV) and vitamin C (58% DV), but otherwise contains no micronutrients in significant amounts.

Nanas has traditionally been known to improve digestion and reduce acne. Fresh fruit is consumed directly or processed into a variety of delicious dishes. Long leaves are processed into fiber as a luxurious lace fabric.

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Bromeliaceae
Genus: Ananas
Species: A. comosus

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