Pomegranates are an ancient fruit deriving their name from the Latin word pomum for apple and granatus for seeded. The pomegranate is a fruit- bearing deciduous shrub between five and eight meters tall. The leaves are glossy, narrow and oblong. The flowers are bright red, 3 cm in diameter, with four to more petals. The fruit is an orange sized berry with a crown at the base. The thick, leathery reddish pink skin of the pomegranate contains around 600 seeds, held in compartments by a thick white membrane. The seeds & surrounding pulp, ranging in color from white to deep red, are called arils. Often the pomegranate will split when ripe. The entire aril, including pulp and seed, can be eaten or you can discard the seed after enjoying the translucent red pulp. Depending on the ripeness and variety of the pomegranate the aril can be very sweet or tart. Pomegranate juice provides an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin B 5, potassium and antioxidants. If you eat the seeds, you also get an excellent source of fiber. Pomegranate juice is used for the natural dyeing of non-synthetic fibers. Be careful when eating it to avoid staining your clothes. The Pomegranate is native to Asia & the Mediterranean countries. Spanish settlers introduced it to Latin America & California in It is now cultivated in California & Arizona for juice production. In the United States it is available from September to December. Whole fruit can be held in a cool dark place for one month & under refrigeration for two months. REFERENCES Childrens Literature about Pomegranates Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds By Maggie Moore The Magic Pomegranate By Melanie Hall Pomegranates By Ann Kleinberg