Punica.] XXXVIII. LYTHRAEIE^l. 241 



fruit of a Eose, with this difference, that in the Rose the carpels are more 

 numerous, that they do not coalesce, though the styles sometimes do, and 

 that they are 1 -seeded. This brief indication of a most curious structure 

 is intended to elicit further researches on the development of the ovary in 

 the Indian genera of Rosaceae, Myrtacese, and Lythrarieae (Sonneratia and 

 Dudbanga). With regard to Punica, there should be consulted, besides 

 Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom, and Wight's Illustrations, Agardh. Syst. 

 Plant. 1858, t. xii. ; Griffith Notuhe, iv. p. 641, Ic. t. 634 j Payer Organo- 

 genic Comparee de la Fleur, Paris, 1857, p. 465, t. 99; Berg in Martius 

 Fl. Brasiliensis, Myrtacese, p. 6, t. 8, 9. Punica is an anomalous genus, 

 with some affinity to Myrtaceae, but is separated from that order by the 

 valvate calyx and other characters. 



1. P. Granatum, Linn. ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 499 ; W. & A. Prodr. 327 ; 

 Wight 111. t. 97. The Pomegranate. Sans. Dalima ; Arab. Ruman ; 

 Pers. Anar. Vern. Anar (tree and fruit), darim, dalim, dal, daru, dharu, 

 darnu. 



A shrub or small tree, deciduous, glabrous, often with spinescent branch- 

 lets. Leaves opposite or subopposite, often fascicled, on short petioles, ob- 

 long, quite entire, not dotted. Flowers sessile, terminal, solitary or in 

 3-flowered cymes, usually scarlet, rarely white or yellow. Fruit 2-3J 

 in. diam., with a coriaceous rind; pulp red, in some varieties white. Seeds 

 angled. 



Wild, common in Eastern Afghanistan and Beluchistan to 6000 ft. Hills 

 west of Sindh to 4000 ft. East flank of Suliman range between 3500 and 6000 

 ft. Not uncommon in the Panjab Salt range, and in parts of the North- West 

 Himalaya. Abundant in Kamaon (wild ?) at elevations between 2000-6000 ft. 

 Believed also to be indigenous in Syria. Run wild in Greece (Fraas Syn. PI. 

 Fl. class. 79). Cultivated extensively in many parts of India, in Western Asia, 

 the Mediterranean region, and in many subtropical countries of the Old and the 

 New World.* New leaves (in India) Feb., March ; fl. chiefly April, May, but 

 also at other seasons ; the fruit ripens from July-Sept. Easily raised from cut- 

 tings ; growth slow (18 rings per in. radius). 



Rarely over 20 ft. high, with a short trunk attaining 3-4 ft. in girth ; bark 

 yellowish or dark grey. Wood whitish or yellowish white, close- and even- 

 grained, hard, heavy, takes a fine polish. Several varieties of the fruit are cul- 

 tivated in Kashmir, but the best Pomegranates are imported into India from 

 Afghanistan ; those of Jellalabad are valued most. The bark of the root is an 

 excellent vermifuge, and is considered a specific against the tape-worm (Pharm. 

 Ind. 93). The rind of the fruit, ndspdl, Pb. chandi, cliowdi, Tcushidla, Sindh, 

 is extensively used as a dye- and tan-stuff ; from the flowers a light-red dye is 

 made. Morocco leather is tanned and dyed with the bark of the tree. 



* The Pomegranate, the Fig, and the Vine are frequently mentioned in the Old 

 Testament (e. g., Deut. viii. 8). The Pomegranate occurs in the Odyssey ; its name 

 {foia) is supposed to suggest an affinity with the Hebrew and Syrian name Rimmon. 

 There seems no doubt that the tree is not indigenous in Greece, and that its cultiva- 

 tion was originally introduced from Syria. Of the Latin names, mala granata, quae, 

 punica vocantur, the first is explained by the number of seeds (a granorum multitu- 

 dine), the second indicates that the fruit, or at least some of the better kinds, was 

 brought from North Africa. The Pomegranate is not, however, indigenous in North 

 Africa, and was probably brought to Carthage from Phoenicia. 



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