Genus PUNICA, Tourn. 



Granataceae. Icosandria Monogynia. 



Syst. Nat. Syst. Lin. 



Synonymes. 

 Punica, Malus, Of Authors. 



jjeriralion. According to the " Nouveau Du Hamel," Punica is said to be derived either from ptmiceus , scarlet, in allu- 

 sion to the colour of llu; flowers ; or from the same word, or punicus, both signifying " of Cartilage ;" near which city, Pliny 

 tells us, it was first found. 



Generic Characters. Calyx with its tube top-shaped ; its limb with 5 7 lobes ; their x-stivation valvate. 

 Petals 5 7. Stamens numerous, with distinct filaments, which bear the anthers on their inner side. 

 Style 1. Stigma 1. Fruit spherical, crowned with the upper part of the calyx, the lower part of which, 

 forms the rind. The fruit does not open, but is divided into two parts by a horizontal diaphragm. The 

 upper portion consists of 5 9 cells ; the lower one is smaller, and consists of 3 cells only. In both, 

 the cells are separated by membraneous partitions ; in the upper ones, fleshy placentae extend from the 

 sides of the fruit to the centre, and in the lower, irregular processes arise from the bottom. Seeds very 

 numerous, surrounded by a transparent, shining pulp. Embryo oblong ; its radicle short and straight ; 

 Its cotyledons leafy, and spirally convolute. Leaves deciduous, opposite, more rarely whorled or 

 alternate ; in many instances in groups in the axils ; oblong and entire. Flowers scarlet, 2 5 together, 

 almost sessile, and almost terminal upon the branchlets. De Candollc, Prodromus. 



kHE genus Punica was separated from the order Myrtacege by Pro- 

 fessor Don, in 1826. It consists of small trees or shrubs, with 

 branchlets imperfectly square, and becoming spiny with age. 

 There are several species described by botanists, but we have 

 regarded them only as varieties of the same tree. 



Nearly allied to the natural family to which this genus belongs, 

 IS the order Calycanthacea, including two genera, Calycanthus and Chimonan- 

 thus. " In the stems of all the plants belonging to this order, there is the usual 

 deposit of concentric circles of wood around the pith, and, in addition, four very 

 imperfect centres of deposition on the outside next the bark; a most singular 

 structure, which may be called, without much inaccuracy, an instance of exo- 

 genous and endogenous growth combined in the same individual."* The spe- 

 cies belonging to these genera, most worthy of note, are the Carolina allspice, 

 (Calycanthus floridus,) American allspice, (Calycanthus Irovigatus,) and the 

 fragrant-flowered chimonanthus, (Chimonanthus fragrans,) the latter of which 

 is a native of Japan. 



* Lindley's Introduction to the Natural System of Botany, p. 160. 

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