Sonnerntia.] 
LIII. LYTHRARIEiE. 
679 
the persistent calyx, and adnate to it at the base. Seeds immersed in pulp, 
angular, with a thick testa. Embryo curved. — Glabrous trees or shrubs. Leaves 
opposite, petiolate, rather thick. Flowers large, solitary or 3 together in the 
upper axils or at the ends of the branches. 
Besides the Australian species, which is spread over E. India and the Archipelago and extends 
to eastern Africa, the genus contains one or two others from the same region. 
1. S. alba (white), Smith in Rees Cyclop, xxxiii. No. 2 ; C. B. Clarke in Honk. 
FI. Brit. Ind. ii. 580. “ Pornupan,” Cooktown, Roth. A small tree growing 
among mangroves, the branchlets easily disarticulating at the joints when dry. 
Leaves elliptic, obtuse or obovate, about 3in. long, narrowed at the base to a 
petiole of 2 or 3 lines. Calyx in flower exceeding lin. broad. Style long. 
Calyx-tube 6 to 8-angular, lobes 6 to 8 ; no petals. Fruit exceeding lin. broad ; 
calyx obconical at the base, ribbed. — -DC. Prod. iii. 231 ; Blume, Mus. Bot. i. 
338 ; Miq. FI. Ind. Bat. i. pt. i. 497 ; Kurz Fors. FI. i. 52S ; S. mossambicensis, 
Klotzschin, Peters Reis. Mosamb. Bot. t. 12; S', acida, Benth. FI. Austr. iii. 
301 ; Hiern in Oliv. FI. Trop. Afr. ii. 483 ; Rump. Amb. iii. t. 73. 
Hab.: Johnstone River, Dr. T. I.. Bancroft, and other similar localities in tropical Queenslan 1. 
This species was united with S. acida by Mr. Bentham, and the other writers at Kew have 
followed. Mr. Kurz has pointed out the distinction in the calyx, and there is a wide difference 
between the fruits so far as at present known, but the material is not ample. — C. B. Clarke l.c. 
From the large lateral roots, which often extend a considerable distance from the trunk, are 
sent up erect root-processes, similar to those formed by Avicennia only much larger, some 
measuring as much as 6ft. in height and about 4in. diameter at the base, tapering to about lin. 
at the summit ; in cases where the tops of these formations have been broken they frequently 
fork, but never seem to form leaves or true stems. 
Timber used for making canoes. — Roth. 
8. *PUNICA, Linn. 
(From punicus, of Carthage.) 
Calyx-tube funnel-shaped, coriaceous, adnate to the ovary below, enlarged 
above the ovary ; lobes 5 to 7, persistent on the fruit. Petals 5 to 7, lanceolate, 
wrinkled, inserted between the calyx-lobes. Stamens numerous, inserted round 
the mouth of the calyx. Ovary inferior, with many cells in two whorls ; style 
long, bent, stigma capitate ; ovules numerous, placentas in some cells axile, in 
others parietal. Berry inferior, globose, many celled. Seeds very many, angular, 
testa coriaceous with a watery outer coat ; cotyledons convolute. — Large shrubs ; 
branches often armed. Leaves opposite, subopposite, or clustered, oblong, 
obovate, obtuse, entire. Flowers shortly pedicellate, axillary, solitary or clustered, 
large, orange-red or creamy-white. 
1. P. Crranatum (full of grains), Linn. Pomegranate. A dense shrub or 
small tree, often spinous, deciduous. Leaves about 2in. long and Jin. broad, 
narrowed towards both ends, with the intramarginal nerve distinct or obscure. 
Calyx-lobes about lin. long, the petals longer. Fruit globose, often large, the 
numerous seeds covered with a very juicy pulp, which is sharply acid or sweet. 
Hab.: This common plant of India and Persia has strayed from cultivation and become 
naturalised about Bundaberg. — J. Keys. 
Dr. W. Dymoek, Veg. Mat. Med. of W. India, says that the Arabs recommend the root-bark as 
being the most astringent part of the plant, and a perfect specific in cases of tapeworm ; it is 
given in decoction, prepared with two ounces of fresh bark, boiled in a pint and a half of water 
till but three quarters of a pint remain ; of this, when cold, a wineglassful may be drunk every 
half-hour till the whole is taken. This dose sometimes sickens the stomach a little, but seldom 
fails to destroy the worm, which is soon after parsed. 
The seeds of the Pomegranate are considered to be stomachic, the pulp cardiacal and 
stomachic. The root, bark, and rind of the fruit are officinal in the Pharmacopoeia of India. 
The bark and the rind of the fruit, according to J. S. Gamble, Manual of Ind'an Timbers, are 
used for tanning and for dyeing morocco leather, 
Part II. aa 
