Red Pineapple

These shrubs have been here decorating the "Bedok Reservoir Punggol" signboard for years opposite Hougang Mall but this is the first time I have seen it fruiting. It looked just like the pineapple that we eat but the reddish tint on its leaves and fruit doesn't seem to tally.

A check on 1001 Garden Plants in Singapore showed that this is the Red Pineapple, Ananas bracteatus, which is in the same genus as the commercial pineapple we eat, Ananas comosus. This plant also originates from Brazil and the fruit is also edible though it not as well developed. Because of the sharp spines on the leaves, they are sometimes grown as hedges for security.