Pina pico, Wild pine
Bromelia plumieri

Family: Bromeliaceae

What it is like

It is a large herb. The leaves are arranged in rings. It has suckers around it. The leaves are 3 m long. The edges of the leaves have curved spines. The fruit are yellow. It is like a pineapple. They occur in large clusters near the ground.

There are 51 Bromelia species. They grow in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It does well in shade.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Belize, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw and used for juice. The skin must be peeled off and there are many seeds. The fruit is eaten with some salt to stop the sap irritating the mouth. The bulbs are cooked then sun-dried. The bulb is then pulverised and reduced to a flour. (Bromelia caratas) The young flower stalks are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, bulb, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Pineapple relative, Pinuela, Kurubishuru

Synonyms

Karatas plumieri Morr.;