THE POMEGRANATE AND THE JUJUBE 377 



prehistoric times, was extended, before the Christian era, west- 

 ward to the Mediterranean region and eastward into China. 

 At the present time it is a common fruit in India, Afghanistan, 

 Persia, Arabia, and near the shores of the Mediterranean both 

 in Europe and Africa, more particularly the latter. In America 

 it is scattered from the southern United States to Chile and 

 Argentina, probably reaching its greatest perfection in the 

 arid regions of California, Arizona, and northern Mexico. 



Throughout tropical America the plant is common in gardens 

 and dooryards, but in many places it is grown more for its 

 ornamental value than for its fruit. In humid climates the 

 fruit is inferior in quality. 



The ancient Semitic name rimmon has been adopted by the 

 Arabs as rumman, and later the Portuguese roma or roman was 

 formed from it. From the early Roman names malum punicum 

 (apple of Carthage) and granatum have been taken the botanical 

 name Punica Granatum, L., under which the species is known 

 scientifically, and the common name granada, used throughout 

 Spanish-speaking countries. From this same source, evidently, 

 are the French grenade and the German granatapfel. Of the 

 several names current in Hindustan anar is the commonest; 

 darimba is the Sanskrit name. The Persians know the pome- 

 granate-flower as jitlnar. 



The fruit is peculiarly refreshing in character, hence is much 

 eaten in hot countries. It is also used to prepare a cooling 

 drink known as grenadine; but the beverage dispensed under 

 this name in the Mediterranean region and tropical America 

 commonly is colored and flavored artificially. The roots of the 

 plant and the rind and seeds of the fruit are used medicinally in 

 the Orient. The classical Arab lexicographers define the pome- 

 granate as : "a certain fruit, the produce of a certain tree, well 

 known ; the sweet sort thereof relaxes the state of the bowels, 

 and cough ; the sour sort has the contrary effect ; and that which 

 is between sweet and sour is good for inflammation of the 



