Bromelia pinguin

Bromelia pinguin is a plant species in the genus Bromelia. This species is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and northern South America.[2] It is also reportedly naturalized in Florida.[2] It is very common in Jamaica, where it is planted as a fence around pasture lands, on account of its prickly leaves. The fruit, known as piñuela, is dug out, protective "hair" removed, peeled like a banana, and eaten. They are slightly tart with a crunch from the seeds. The plant can be stripped of its pulp, soaked in water, and beaten with a wooden mallet, and it yields a fiber whence thread is made. In countries like El Salvador, it is used to make gruel.[3][4]

Bromelia pinguin (Piñuela) in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua.
Bromelia pinguin flower in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua

Bromelia pinguin
1821 illustration[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Bromeliaceae
Genus: Bromelia
Species:
B. pinguin
Binomial name
Bromelia pinguin
Synonyms[2]
  • Karatas pinguin (L.) Mill.
  • Ananas pinguin (L.) Gaertn.
  • Agallostachys pinguin (L.) Beer
  • Bromelia fastuosa Lindl.
  • Bromelia sepiaria Schult. & Schult.f.
  • Agallostachys fastuosa (Lindl.) Beer
  • Bromelia ignea Beer

References
  1. John Lindley (1799-1865) - Collectanea botanica, or, Figures and botanical illustrations of rare and curious exotic plants by John Lindley, London, pl 1
  2. "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
  3. "Piñuela, BROMELIA KARATAS". www.backyardnature.net.
  4.  Reynolds, Francis J., ed. (1921). "Penguin" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company.

Additional sources


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