PUNICA GRANATUM. 45 
PUNICA GRANATUM. 
LINNEUS. 
POMEGRANATE. 
Sex. Syst.—Icosandria, Monogynia. 
This genus has been placed in a separate order, Granatee, by Mr. Don. Dr. Lindley, however, treats of it as a 
portion of the Myrtacee. 
Gen. Cuar.—Calyz turbinate, five to seven-cleft, estivation valvate. Petals five to seven. Stamens numerous ; 
filaments distinct. Style filiform. Stigma capitate. Fruit large, globose, crowned by the somewhat tubular limb of 
the calyx, baccate, indehiscent, covered with the tube of the calyx, divided horizontally into two parts by a very 
irregular confused dissepiment; the lower division three-celled, the upper five to nine-celled ; dissepiments membrana- 
ceous ; placente in the lower division at the bottom ; in the upper stretching from the side of the fruit to the middle. 
Seeds numerous, nestling in the pellucid pulp. Embryo oblong ; radicle short, acute ; cotyledons foliaceous, spirally 
convolute. 
Small trees or shrubs, with spinescent branchlets. Leaves deciduous, opposite, rarely verticillate or alternate, 
often axillary and fascicled, oblong, quite entire, not dotted. Flowers two to three, nearly sessile, on somewhat terminal 
branchlets, usually scarlet. (Wight and Arnott. Lindley.) 
Spectr. Cuar.—Stem arborescent, (fifteen to twenty feet high,) and irregular, in arid situations rather thorny, the 
leaves usually opposite, often fascicled, oblong, inclining to lanceolate, quite entire, not dotted, smooth, shining, and of 
a dark-green colour; flower commonly solitary, of a brilliant scarlet colour; calyz thick and fleshy, adhering to the’ 
ovary, turbinate, five to seven-cleft ; petals five to seven, crumpled; stamens numerous, often double; style filiform ; 
stigma capitate; fruit of the size of a large apple, with a thick, leathery rind, and crowned with the tubular limb of 
the calyx; cells several, arranged in two strata, separated from each other by an irregular transverse diaphragm ; lower 
division of three cells, the upper of from five to nine cells; seeds numerous, involved in pellucid pulp, with foliaceous, — 
spirally-convolute cotyledons. ( Royle, from Nees Von Esenbeck.) : 
The Pomegranate has been known from a very early period, and the several parts of it employed for a number of 
purposes. It is said, originally, to have come from Africa, the generic name Punica being significant of its Carthaginian 
origin. By the Romans it was called “Malum Punicum.” The specific name originated from the ene moyied 
of seeds which it contains. The plant is now found abundantly in Europe and Africa, on both sides of the 
Mediterranean, in Syria, India, China, and in America, wherever the climate is mild enough for its greeting: fo 
flowers are called balustine flowers ( flores balustie) ; they are odourless, of a fine red colour, and styptic taste; they 
communicate a reddish colour to the saliva. ; 
The rind of the fruit (malicorium) is tough and membranous; when dry, it is of a dark La pn haa Cae 
brittle, odourless, and very styptic. The seeds in the fresh state are acidulous and astringent, from cs root. is 
tained in vesicles surrounding them. They are of a beautiful red, shining through the transparent Juice. ) 
Woody, knotty, hard, heavy, of a yellow colour, and astringent taste. | | 
The bark is of an ashy hue, brittle, fibrous, and astringent. 
All these portions contain tannin in abundance, resin, extractive, 
Soiree This has been shown to be identical with mannite. There appears to 
and the cultivated plant. 2 
The medical ee of all portions of the Pomegranate which are used, are of an entringent —— mac 
As a remedy in tenia, the root-bark is sometimes directed. The powder of each part employ ae Soe e 
an infusion or decoction is prepared. 
PLATE XXXVIII.—Represents the plant in flower, the dissected flower, and the fruit. 
VOL. 1. ie 
and in the root a peculiar principle called 
be no difference between the wild 
