The pineapple plant, scientifically known as Ananas comosus, is a tropical terrestrial bromeliad. This perennial herb grows low to the ground, forming a dense, self-contained structure before producing its singular, large fruit.
The Rosette Structure and Foliage
The main body of the pineapple plant is a dense basal rosette of leaves that can reach a spread of three to five feet wide. The actual stem is short and stocky, hidden beneath the tightly packed, spirally arranged leaves. These leaves are typically long, stiff, and lanceolate, growing up to three feet in length.
The foliage often displays a grayish-green or bluish-green color, though some varieties may show reddish or purple hues, especially when exposed to strong sunlight. A waxy coating, or cuticle, covers the leaves, helping the plant conserve water in its warm, often dry, native environment. A distinctive feature of the leaves is the presence of sharp, marginal spines or serrations running along the edges, which serve as a protective mechanism.
The Unique Fruiting Process
After a long period of vegetative growth, typically 12 to 20 months, a central stalk, known as the peduncle, emerges from the center of the leafy rosette. This stalk rises above the main foliage and terminates in a compact, spike-like inflorescence. This inflorescence is composed of 50 to 200 small, tubular flowers, which are often violet or reddish-purple in color.
Each flower is subtended by a bract and opens for only a single day, with flowering progressing from the base of the spike upwards. As the flowers wither, the entire structure—including the individual flowers, their bracts, and the central axis—fuses together. This fusion process results in a single, large, multiple fruit, or syncarp, which is why the pineapple has a segmented, scaly, and compound appearance.
Appearance of the Mature Fruit on the Plant
The mature pineapple fruit sits prominently atop the central stalk, easily visible above the surrounding foliage. As it develops, the fruit swells and its surface forms the characteristic rough, waxy rind composed of numerous hexagonal segments. The fruit can grow to be 12 inches long and weigh between two to eight pounds, depending on the cultivar.
The color of the fruit changes as it ripens, progressing from a solid green to shades of yellow, orange, or sometimes reddish-brown at the base. Perched directly on top of the fruit is a small, separate rosette of stiff leaves, known as the crown. This crown is a defining visual characteristic of the pineapple and is formed by the continued growth of the stem beyond the fruiting structure.