Background Information on Pineapple Pineapples are one of the world's most unique and exotic tropical fruits. They are perennial herbs and xerophytic plants which use water very efficiently.
Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromalin.
There are many named clones, classed in four or five groups including 'Cayenne', 'Spanish', 'Queen', and 'Pernambuco', which may represent botanical varieties. Commercial production is mostly based on clones in the 'Cayenne' group, also known as 'Smooth Cayenne' because the leaf margins lack spines. Description Pineapples have narrow, tapering, pointed leaves up to 100 cm long arranged in a spiral rosettes that tightly clasp a central stem. Leaf margins are usually lacking spines in Smooth Cayenne while spines are present in clones of the Spanish group. In Smooth Cayenne, the inflorescence consists of 100 to 200 flowers arranged in a compact spiral cluster.