pineapple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• pineapple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bromelia comosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Ananas comosus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Poaales. Finally, it is a member of the Bromeliaceae family within the genus Ananas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Ananas comosus, is primarily distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. Its presence is specifically documented in the nation of Gambia, where it grows in local environments. It can also be found throughout the territories of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into the Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical range includes the country of Senegal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ananas comosus is characterized by a versatile adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a wide elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2000 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 812.5 m AMSL. This plant is found in a variety of distinct ecosystems, demonstrating significant ecological plasticity by inhabiting anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Cerrado (latu sensu) savanna, Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila), which includes pluvial forest environments.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

812.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Ananas comosus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate. This hemicryptophytic nature enables the plant to maintain its biological continuity and ability to regenerate following seasonal variations.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ananas comosus is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and specifically as a forb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. It reaches a maximum plant height of 1 m, with a mean height recorded at approximately 0.955 m. As a non-epiphytic, terrestrial species, it maintains a compact, herbaceous structure typical of its classification.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.955 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ananas comosus is characterized by a specialized metabolic strategy and distinct morphological adaptations. The plant utilizes the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway, an adaptation that allows for efficient carbon fixation while minimizing water loss by opening stomata primarily at night. In terms of vegetative structure, the leaves exhibit significant morphological variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 30 cm to a mean of 65 cm, reaching a maximum of 100 cm. The width of these leaves fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 7 cm. Despite its specialized carbon fixation, the plant does not exhibit true succulence. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on other mechanisms for nutrient acquisition within its ecosystem.

Leaf length max:

100 cm

Leaf length mean:

65 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ananas comosus is characterized by a complex flowering and fruiting process involving specific morphological traits. The inflorescence is relatively compact, measuring between 0.06 m and 0.08 m in length, which bears flowers typically ranging from 1 cm to 1.5 cm in width and displaying a distinct red color. In terms of pollination dynamics, self-fertilization is noted as absent, necessitating external agents. The resulting fruit is a fleshy structure with a consistent length of approximately 15 cm. The seeds produced during this cycle maintain a uniform volume of 13 mm³, with no variance between the minimum, maximum, and mean values. Dispersal of the plant is categorized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it specifically exhibits anthropochorous traits, indicating that human intervention plays a significant role in its distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower width max:

1.5 cm

Flower width min:

1 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

15 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.08 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Seed volume max:

13 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ananas comosus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, root.

Stem

1. Planta medica
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Ananas comosus has 148 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BROMELAIN, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, BETA-SITOSTEROL, FAT.

BROMELAIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
4. Scientific reports
5. Journal of parasitology research

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of food science

p-coumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of food science

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture

1-O-Caffeoylglycerol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

1-o-p-coumaroylglycerol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

2,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone

1. Dr. Duke

5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ananas comosus has 613 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antileukemic, Digestive, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Omics : a journal of integrative biology

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Digestive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ananas comosus has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include blood coagulation, burns, cancer, cardiac disease, dysentery.

Blood coagulation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Burns

1. Planta medica

Cancer

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Cardiac disease

1. Journal of food science

Dysentery

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Dysuria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Helminthiases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Indigestion

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Platelet aggregation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Ananas comosus has 9 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Root extracts, active cream, dichloromethane extracts, ethanol extracts, plant extracts.

Root extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Active cream

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of helminthology

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of helminthology

Plant extracts

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Stem fractions

1. Planta medica

Topical cream

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Topical skincare products

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Water extracts

1. Journal of helminthology