anannas :

Geographical distribution:

Pineapple originally flourished in South America from where it spread out to the rest of the world. Soon it was carried by sailors on long sea voyage as part of their vitamin C stock, much like tomatoes.

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

Pineapple is refered to as "multiple fruit" because they are derived from the coalescence of ovaries from many individual flowers plus a fleshy stem axis.

Plant conservation:

Pineapple has several special characteristics that allow it to survive and thrive under low rainfall conditions:

 Leaf shape and orientation that maximises capture of moisture and sunlight most efficiently

 The large cups formed where the leaves attach to the stump are effective reservoirs for nutrient solutions and water

 The ability to absorb nutrients through axillary roots in the leaf bases, and directly through the leaf surfaces especially the basal white tissue

 Low numbers of stomata, and leaves that are insulated to reduce water loss

 Water storage tissue that can make up to half the leaf thickness, and is used during periods of low rainfall to help maintain growth

 A specialised metabolic system (CAM) for capturing carbon dioxide at night for use during the day that greatly reduces water loss The pineapple’s adaptation to dry conditions comes not only from evolving in a dry climate but also from its epiphytic ancestry (epiphytes grow above the ground on other plants for support).