We've a volunteer!

[DrEntropy]

This guy has shown up after the plant had produced one fruit already. I'd been given to understand the plant would only bear fruit once. Curious now to see if it is any good after it matures.

 

[Basil]

Ok, I'll bite - what is it?

 

[GregW]

I've never seen a flower like that. Like Basil, no idea what it is.

 

[DrEntropy]

Pineapple. This plant produced one a couple years ago. We kept two plants in large pots at the front of the hovel, both had produced fruit a couple years ago and we left 'em as decoration thinking they'd not "bloom" again. More a novelty than anything practical. Pineapples can be had from the grocery stores any time, waiting a year or more for one to bear fruit is kinda silly.

The leaves are long and spiked, with serrated edges sharp as razors. Good barrier foliage.

 

[GregW]

Hard to believe anyone can turn a profit growing those.

 

[DrEntropy]

When we went through Jungle Survival/E&E training the instructors told us if we ever got shot down and started moving, we should avoid any pineapple fields by a good long distance. They're all heavily guarded, not indigenous and only grown on purpose, by people. Even one plant would be watched.

 

[DrEntropy]

A bit more recognizable now.

 

[GregW]

Ah yes. I bet that will taste soooo much better than what you get at the super market.

 

[DrEntropy]

We've had two of the "home grown" ones a couple years ago, one from this plant. They were very sweet and certainly did taste better than the commercially available ones. But ya gotta be really patient!