Ananas is a plant genus of the bromeliad family ( Bromeliaceae ), native to South America and Central America, which includes the species Ananas comosus, the pineapple.
This genus originated in Mesoamerica and was brought to the Caribbean Islands by the Carib natives. The oldest register with the representation of the fruit seems to be included in the Cascajal Block, attributed to the Olmec civilization.
In 1493, Christopher Columbus first saw plants of this genus in Guadeloupe. It was brought from Brazil to Europe by the Portuguese, and from there was distributed to the Pacific Islands by the Spanish and the English. Commercial pineapple plantations were established in Hawaii, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Florida, and Cuba. The pineapple has become one of the world 's most popular fruits.
The tough leaves grow in large rosettes, arising basally from a crown. These leaves are long and lanceolate with a serrated or thorny margin. The flowers, arising from the heart of the rosette, each have their own sepals.
