PomegranateGenus: Punica

Family: Lythraceae

Classification and Relatives

• Punica granatum – Pomegranate• Common variety

• Punica protopunica – Socotra pomegranate• Smaller, less sweet fruit

History of Cultivation

• Persia (area of modern-day Iraq and Iran)– 3500 BC• Egypt – 1780 BC• Jericho (modern day Palestine) – 1600 BC• China – 900 BC• Brought to North America by the Spanish in 1769

Cultivation

• Grown as a fruit crop.• Ornamental trees and shrubs in parks and gardens.• Mature specimens can develop sculptural twisted bark

multi-trunks.

• Drought-tolerant• Prone to root decay and fungal disease in wet areas.

• Moderately frost tolerant.• Down to about -12 °C (10 °F)

• Grows easily from seed.• Commonly propagated from 25-50 cm hardwood

cuttings.• Cultivated in Mediterranean region of southern Europe,

the Middle East, Africa, India, southeast Asia, California and Arizona.

Characteristics

• Deciduous shrub or small tree between 5-8 meters tall.• Leaves are opposite, glossy, narrow and oblong.• Flowers are bright red with four to five petals.• Fruit is 5-12 cm in diameter with a rounded shape.• Has a thick reddish skin.• 200-1400 seeds each surrounded by the edible aril.

Uses

• Cooking• Baking• Juices• Smoothies• Alcoholic beverages such and martinis and wine

Potential Health Benefits

• Preliminary research shows that metabolites of pomegranate juice may:• Reduce the risks of heart disease• Lower systolic blood pressure• Increase salivary testosterone levels• Affect mood, anxiety or emotions

Historical Facts

• Used in India as source of traditional remedies for thousands of years.

• Symbol of prosperity and ambition in ancient Egypt.• Symbol of fertility in ancient China.• Symbol of the goddess Persephone in ancient Greece.• Known as the fruit of the dead.

• Mentioned in Babylonian texts, the Book of Exodus, the Homeric Hymns and the Quran.

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate• http://archaeology.about.com/od/plthroughpo/qt/

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