A Conversation for Ask h2g2
Pineapples
Pink Paisley Started conversation Nov 1, 2000
I've just eaten a pineapple.
Where are the pips?
Pineapples
LL Waz Posted Nov 1, 2000
I believe you chop the top off, the bit with the leaves, and plant it. How this is down without human interference I don't know.
Wz
Pineapples
Wand'rin star Posted Nov 2, 2000
If untouched by human hand don't they send out suckers like strawberries?
Pineapples
queeglesproggit Posted Nov 2, 2000
Strawberries send out suckers?? Why..wha'..why??????
I used to like strawbs but now they've taken on a more scary edge!
Pineapples
Is mise Duncan Posted Nov 2, 2000
In penance for my flippant answer I did a bit of research, and it turns out that pineapples do have pips - only that commercial ones aren't polinated so the pips don't develop.
A pineapple, it seems, is a compound fruit in that all the flowers join up to make the one fruit. In the wild the pineapple is pollinated by hummingbirds so to keep this from happening the farmer puts a clear plastic bag over the flower head.
HTH,
<>====uuu====<
Pineapples
Niz (soon to be gone) Posted Nov 2, 2000
Is the pineapple in anyway related to an apple or is it just cosmic co-incidence?
Pineapples
Is mise Duncan Posted Nov 2, 2000
No - I think people got all confused when they first appeared.
They are, in fact, some kind of cactus like plant...
Pineapples-tangent
Niz (soon to be gone) Posted Nov 2, 2000
I heard from a very unreliable source that bananas were not actually a fruit but a spice due to the fact that it contains no seeds.
Can anyone confirm with extreme accuracy that my chain has been yanked
sorry for the tangent
Pineapples-tangent
Pink Paisley Posted Nov 2, 2000
I have also been party to the bananas are herbs discussion. Something to do with the way the plant grows. It certainly is not a tree.
Pineapples-tangent
Xanatic(phenomena phreak) Posted Nov 2, 2000
So did you also know that strawberries are in fact nuts? There are several clinics around the world dedicated to the mental problems of strawberries. And sadly there still hasnĀ“t been produced straight jackets in their size, so it is a big problem keeping them from hurting themselves. Actually many strawberries have been killed when the helpers have tried to strap them to the bed with leather straps.
Pineapples-tangent
a girl called Ben Posted Nov 3, 2000
The problems of restraining strawberries are nothing compared with the problem of making pineapple jelly. It just won't happen. Pineapples contain an enzyme which neutralises gelatine, as I discovered to my embarassement when I had to serve sponge, fruit salad, strawberry syrup, custard and cream, instead of trifle.
Pineapples-tangent
Hoversnail Posted Nov 4, 2000
Pineapples also contain an enzyme which degrades connective tissue holding flesh together. This is why it is useful for tenderising meat. It is also why all your teeth will fall out if you eat too many of them.
Pineapples-tangent
a girl called Ben Posted Nov 5, 2000
Probably the same enzyme acting on the same stuff. Nasty about the teeth, though.
Pineapples-tangent
Hoversnail Posted Nov 5, 2000
True, gelatine was originally made of connective tissue, by boiling carcases, to alter the structure of the collagen, -like in glue manufacturing. Probably isn't any more, I hope. The enzyme in pineapples is a collagenase and degredes the collagen.
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Pineapples
- 1: Pink Paisley (Nov 1, 2000)
- 2: Is mise Duncan (Nov 1, 2000)
- 3: LL Waz (Nov 1, 2000)
- 4: Xanatic(phenomena phreak) (Nov 2, 2000)
- 5: Wand'rin star (Nov 2, 2000)
- 6: queeglesproggit (Nov 2, 2000)
- 7: Is mise Duncan (Nov 2, 2000)
- 8: Niz (soon to be gone) (Nov 2, 2000)
- 9: Is mise Duncan (Nov 2, 2000)
- 10: Niz (soon to be gone) (Nov 2, 2000)
- 11: LL Waz (Nov 2, 2000)
- 12: Pink Paisley (Nov 2, 2000)
- 13: Xanatic(phenomena phreak) (Nov 2, 2000)
- 14: a girl called Ben (Nov 3, 2000)
- 15: Hoversnail (Nov 4, 2000)
- 16: a girl called Ben (Nov 5, 2000)
- 17: Hoversnail (Nov 5, 2000)
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