Why was it called a pine apple?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
April 19, 2002
Sponsored By: NOVICA—>Click here.
AAA Fruit Baskets—>Click here
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Assorted Killer Savings Smart Store Links—>Click here.
Killer Picks: Single Rose Gourmet Basket & Colossal Fruit Basket—>Click here.
In 1493, Columbus and his crew were introduced to the 'anana' by the fierce Carib who had spread its cultivation up the islands of the West Indies. The Carib had learned of this plant from the Guarani, tribes living in the Amazon basin. Anana was its Guarani name.
The Spanish called the fruit piña because it looked like a large pine cone. In English, it was called pineapple. Early cultivars were said to have an apple-like flavor.
This bromeliad spread around the world carried and planted by seafarers. By 1591, the Filipinos were extracting the strong silky fibers from the leaves and weaving the fine piña cloth. The wide, long-leafed variety spread to Guam—used for fishnets, to India—thread for stitching shoes, to China for fabric, and to Africa for stringing jewels into necklaces and weaving capes for chieftains.
By 1753, fourteen bromeliads were known to Linnaeus and Europe. Linnaeus named the plants in honor of two botanists—Elias Tillands, Tillandsia, and Olaf Bromel, Bromelia. Carolus Plumier, a French explorer probably assigned the name Bromelia ananas to the pineapple and Linnaeus made the name official in his Species Plantarum.
The modern botanical name, Ananas comosus, came when it was realized the pineapple did not belong with the other species of Bromelia. Its Guarani name, Ananas, was elevated to genus status. The species epithet, comosus, means 'hair of the head' in reference to the pineapple's leafy crown.
The La Herminia Piña Weaving Industry has photographs of a piña and piña cloth. To view this fine fabric, click on the link:
http://www.laherminiaweaving.com.ph/
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
Killer Savings Links:
National Geographic—>Click here
Discovery Channel Store—>Click here.
A&E/The History Channel—>Click here.
Museum Store Company—>Click here.
NOVICA—>Click here.
The NASA Space Store—>Click here.
Single Rose Gourmet Basket
AAA Fruit Baskets®
Our wonderfully hand-delivered gourmet gift basket is adorned with a single live rose. The basket is filled with a large assortment of goodies including gourmet cheese, crackers, sausage, chocolates, and candies.
Single Rose Gourmet Basket, Click here.
|
|
Colossal Fruit Basket
AAA Fruit Baskets®
Wonderfully displayed in a handsome basket, our Colossal Fruit Basket contains the most luscious domestic and tropical fruits available. Fruits may include apples, oranges, grapes, kiwi, pears, nectarines, bananas, pineapple, and coconut as available. A great gift for any occasion.
Colossal Fruit Basket, Click here.
|
|
|
Ceramic candleholders,
'Brown Pineapple' (pair)
NOVICA®
Delicate latticework in warm ceramic characterizes these delightful candleholders. Crafted on a potter's wheel, they evoke the tropical beauty of Bali. The pieces are high fired for eight hours at a temperature of 2,300° F, resulting in a hard, glossy finish.
Click here for sale price and more info...
|
| |
killerplants Recommended Seed and Nursery Stores
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 BACK TO TOP
|
|
