Bromelia pinguin aka Pinguin

Bromelia pinguin is an evergreen perennial in the bromeliad family. Its names include wild pineapple, pinuela, and West Indian penguin plant. Its native range spans Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It grows in tropical regions with a dry season. In Guatemala, it forms broad thickets on lowland plains. It also grows on rocky hills in the West Indies.

This stemless plant forms a rosette of leaves at ground level. It reaches about 3.3 feet (1 metre) tall. One garden account gives a similar width of 3.3 feet (1 metre). However, individual leaves can reach 6.6 feet (2 metres) long. Underground stolons let the plant spread and form dense colonies. Its spread can therefore exceed the stated garden width over time. The plant grows fast and keeps its leaves year-round.

Grow it in sun or partial shade, with soil that drains well. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils, including those low in nutrients. It tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. It can grow in either dry or moist ground. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 9–12. Seed is one recorded means of propagation. Its ability to form colonies matters when choosing a planting site.

The fruit is edible, but its sharp, sour taste limits fresh use. People use it for drinks and sometimes make vinegar from it. Local markets sell the fruit in parts of its range. Young shoots from the plant's base can be eaten raw or cooked. They provide food in dry parts of Guatemala when other vegetables are scarce. People also fry and eat the inflorescence, or flower cluster. In El Salvador, it goes into gruel. The supplied accounts report no known hazards, but give no detailed toxicity assessment.

People gather this plant from the wild and also grow it for food. In Central America and the West Indies, they plant it as a living fence or hedge. Its dense colonies suit this use. The leaves yield fibre for string and rope, though the fibre is weak. To extract it, workers remove the pulp, soak the leaves, and beat them. The sources give no known medicinal use. They do not identify specific pests or diseases.