Punica granatum L.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Punicaceae

• Scientific Name

  Punica granatum L.

• Description

  Species Description - Widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions for its important fruit, the Pomegranate is occasionally spontaneous from seed. It is a smooth, unarmed or spiny shrub, or small tree, with untoothed, mostly opposite leaves, and large, showy, regular, scarlet, or white flowers, followed by the well-known, nearly globular fruit. The Linnaean genus Punica, the name Latin, from the Roman name of Carthage, whence the fruit was obtained, constitutes the Family Punicaceae, and there is only 1 species, made up of several races. Punica Granatum (from ancient name of the fruit) may reach a height of about 7 meters, but is usually much smaller. Its leathery, oblong to elliptic, short-stalked leaves are from 1 to 8 centimeters long, and pointed, blunt, or notched. The spines, when present, are about 2 centimeters long, or shorter. The flowers are solitary, or few together on short, stout stalks in the leaf-axils; the leathery calyx, attached to the ovary, is top-shaped, becoming globose in ripening, and has from 5 to 7, triangular-lanceolate, pointed lobes, which, finally, fall away; there are from 5 to 7, wrinkled, short-clawed, scarlet, or white petals with nearly orbicular blades about 2.5 centimeters long, or shorter; the numerous, slender stamens are borne in many series on the calyx-tube; the several-celled ovary contains many ovules, superimposed in 2 series; the styles are united, the stigma slightly lobed. The large, nearly globular fruit, technically a berry, is from 6 to 14 centimeters in diameter, several-celled, with a hard coat and watery pulp, containing many seeds. The interesting dwarf race, known as Punica nana, is occasionally grown in Porto Rico gardens.

• Discussion

  Granada Pomegranate Pomegranate Family Punica Granatum Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 472. 1753.