The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Common Pineapple Plant, אננס מצויץ, אננס מצויץ

Family: Bromeliaceae (Bromeliad)

Distribution: Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay

Habitat: Savannas

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Uses: The fruit is edible and consequently it is commercially grown throughout the tropics

Etymology: The meaning of the name "Ananas" is " good fruit" in the Tupi language.

In memory: of Nizza Yaffe-Ovadia, a teacher of nature and life.

Description: A perennial herbaceous tropical plant, 1-1.5 m tall. It has a thick stem with a leaf rossette at the base. The leaves are rigid, 30-100 cm long. The inflorescence looks like a large ovate ball, covered by red scales. The small purple flowers emerge between these scales. On the top of the inflorescence ball there is a tuft of additional leaves. When the fruit ripens, it unites into a fruit-like structure - the yellow-brown pineapple, and the leaves on its top grow. The plant is adapted to dryness. and is pollinated by hummingbirds.