What fruit was the symbol of hospitality?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
April 15, 2002
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The pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill) [a nay' nas co mo' sus] is the first bromeliad to interest early explorers. The plant is thought to have originated in Brazil, but this is uncertain since no wild type exists. When Columbus and his crew encountered the pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493, it was fully domesticated and had been in cultivation
for at least 500 years.
The Spanish and Portuguese introduced the plant around the world. By 1549, pineapples were cultivated in India; by 1690, three varieties were reported growing on the islands of Rodriguez and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
It is said that ship captains would impale a pineapple on a porch railing to announce they were at home and accepting visitors. The pineapple became both a symbol of hospitality and status since only the wealthy could afford to purchase the fruit.
Pineapple motifs were carved onto door and gate posts, bed posts in guest rooms had pineapple finials, and stone pineapples decorated gardens. A fruit bowl with a pineapple centerpiece demonstrated to guests that the hostess welcomed her dinner companions as well as announced her refined tastes and family's financial position.
As the wealthy vied to purchase the fruit, gardeners vied for the privilege of growing this bromeliad. It was known in Europe how to propagate the plant from the crown of leaves at the top of the fruit. Still gardeners were unsuccessful getting their plants to bear fruit.
In 1675, John Rose, the head gardener for King Charles II, was the first to bring a pineapple plant to maturity. The occasion was considered so momentous that a painting of Rose presenting the pineapple to King Charles was commissioned.
L'Age d'Or has posted the painting of "Charles II and his Gardener". To view the painting of Charles and John Rose, click on the link:
http://www.kipar.org/period-galleries/galleries_1670p.html
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What is papain? Plants that Changed History -July 1, 2003
Why did seafarers plant pineapples? Plants that Changed History - April 16, 2002
What is a mango? Weird Plants - January 8, 2004
What flower blooms inside its fruit? Renfield's Garden - September 4, 2002
What is a navel orange? Weird Plants - February 13, 2003
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Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
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