By Ritu Asthana; Illustration by Anup Singh
![How did the Pineapple get its Name?, 5wh [Who, What, Where, When, Why & How] for kids: 115_1.gif](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tsIbnYHOaliuZAr_YOMu7SgnzyHAowUAzssDqa4IomCJJq8UsaomWuO8agJLK4ag0zeURt3SdPNnygDLDVt3uAdqTprqlCe5emwZ52DQNiIjmngyXovg=s0-d)
Kshitij, who was all of seven years, wanted to know why he's called
Kshitij and not Sidhartha or Sumit as his best friends were called. His
mother explained to him why names are unique and the importance and
meaning of his name. All this made him wonder as to how various plants
and animals got their names? What prompted people to call banana a
banana and a pineapple a pineapple and not something else?
Actually
there is a reason behind the names given to each and every thing; be it
a fruit, vegetable, an animal or inanimate objects like stars, planets,
etc. However, sometimes the names are misleading, Take the example of
pineapple: no it doesn't come from a pine tree, nor is it an apple.
When
you look at a pineapple you may think you are looking at one fruit.
Actually, the pineapple is a group of tightly packed small fruits!
The
pineapple is native of southern Brazil and Paraguay in South America.
Native Indians spread this fruit, called Ananas, through South and
Central America to the West Indies. In 1493, Columbus, on his voyage to
the Caribbean, found the fruit on the island of Guadaloupe.
To
the European eye, this curious new fruit had an abrasive, segmented
exterior like a pinecone and inside the fruit had a firm interior pulp
like an apple. So combining the two they called it 'pineapple'.
In
Europe, sweets and fresh tropical fruit were not common. These were
imported at great cost from various voyages and expeditions. In such
circumstances, this ripe yellow fruit, which was bursting with natural
sweetness, made the pineapple a coveted fruit. It was such a luxury that
King Charles II of England posed for an official portrait where he is
seen receiving a pineapple as a gift! For many years after, rich
Europeans carefully grew the pineapple in private greenhouses.
Today
pineapple fields exist in many parts of the world, including the West
Indies, Florida, Northern Africa, Hawaii and Australia. The pineapple
plant grows about 2 meter high with a spread of 3 to 4 ft. It is
essentially a short, stout stem with a rosette of waxy, strap like
leaves and bears its fruits at any time of the year. The leaves of the
pineapple plant are also useful for they contain a fibre that can be
made into cloth.
Pineapples are grown from new vegetative
growth. Home gardeners prefer the top or the crown of the fruit. The
crown is removed from the fruit by twisting until it comes free. The
bottom leaves are removed and the crown is left to dry for two days,
then planted.
Next time your Mom makes the "Oh! So delicious
pineapple pudding" for you, you can surprise her by reeling off all the
details you know about the fruit - I am sure she will happily make
another equally tasty dish for you!