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Bromelia karatas - L.

Common Name Ananas pingouin, Karatas, Camburito
Family Bromeliaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards The fruits have thin stinging hairs.
Habitats Marginal forests bordering savannahs and in deciduous forests, at elevations of 1,300 - 1,500 metres[331 ].
Range S. America - Brazil and Ecuador north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Bromelia karatas Ananas pingouin, Karatas, Camburito


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Bromelia karatas Ananas pingouin, Karatas, Camburito
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bromelia karatas is an evergreen Perennial growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Bromelia acanga L. Bromelia acaulis Stokes Bromelia caratas Hill Bromelia plumieri (E.Morren) L.B.Sm. Karatas karatas (L.) Voss Karatas lagopus E.Morren ex Devans. Karatas plumieri E.Morren Nidularium karatas (L.) Lem.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses: Drink

The very young inflorescences are eaten as a vegetable[46 , 301 ]. The fruit is edible[200 ]. A pleasant flavour[46 ]. It is used in the preparation of a refreshing drink called 'Atol de Pina'[46 , 301 ]. The fruit is up to 8cm long[200 ]. The fruits are edible after removal of thin stinging hairs. Similarly to pineapple, eating too much may cause blisters. Tender leaf bases of young shoots - blanched and eaten as a vegetable or added to soups[301 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Skin

The juice of the plant is used to cicatrize recent sores and wounds[348 ]. An alcoholic tincture of the juice is used for a detersive on ulcers[348 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fencing  Fibre  Soap  String

The juice (of the whole plant?) is said to be used as a saponin-containing soap substitute[348 ]. The fibres of mature leaves are used to make cloth, fishing lines, nets and string.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

A plant of the semi-arid tropics and subtropics[200 ]. Requires a well-drained soil and a position in full sun[200 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
  • Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Pinuela

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guianas, Mexico, North America, South America, Suriname, West Indies.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Aechmea magdalenaePingwing. Ixtle, Pita plantPerennial2.5 10-12 SLMHFSM303
Ananas comosusPineapplePerennial1.0 9-11 FLMHSNM524
Bromelia pinguinPinuela. PinguinPerennial1.0 9-12 FLMHSNDM302
Bromelia serraBayonet bromeliadPerennial0.4 10-12 FLMHFSNM103
Greigia sphacelata Perennial0.9 9-11  LMHSNM10 
Puya chilensis Perennial2.0 8-11  LMHND102

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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