From the first observations of the pineapple by European explorers to the classification into Pseudananas sagenarius and the seven Ananas species prevailing at present, the evolution of pineapple taxonomy has shown considerable variation. Most early botanists named or renamed species from previous dubious descriptions or from particular horticultural types. More recently, the genus Pseudananas was created, while horticultural types disappeared from the Ananas species. Subsequently, the total number of species increased again as botanical varieties and forms with minor variation were elevated to species rank. The resulting classification is questionable, as neither discontinuous morphological variation nor reproductive barriers exist in the genus Ananas.