GRANATUM 



313 



size of an orange; rind thick, having a reddish-yellow exterior; pulp many- 

 seeded, acidulous. 



HABITAT. Mediterranean Basin and various portions of Asia; cultivated 



in all warm climates for its ornamental flowers. 

 DESCRIPTION or DRUG. The stem bark comes occasionally in quills, 



more frequently in curved pieces 20 to 80 mm. long, 5 to 20 mm. 



in diameter; bark 0.5 to 2 mm. thick, outer surface yellowish-brown, 



with grayish patches; longitudinally wrinkled; small lenticels. Inner 



FIG. 180. Punica granatum Cross-section of FIG. 181. Punica granatum Cross-section of 

 bark of the stem. 5, Suberous layer. PC, the bark of the root. 



Cortical parenchyma. L, Liber. R, Dotted 

 line extends to narrow medullary ray. O, 

 Stands opposite a tangential row of oxalate of 

 calcium crystals, which are numerous through- 

 out the phloem. C, Cambium. 



surface light yellow or brownish-yellow, finely striate, smooth. Frac- 

 ture short, smooth, inner layer of bark (phelloderm) dark green, 

 inner bark light brown, odor slight; taste astringent, somewhat bitter. 

 The root bark has a rough, yellowish-gray to brown outer surface, 

 marked with more or less longitudinal patches of cork, green inner 

 layer of bark absent. Medullary rays extending nearly to the outer 

 layer; inner surface smooth and yellowish with irregular brownish 

 blotches. 



