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Pomegranate (view source)

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Lythraceae
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| name = Pomegranate
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|genus=Punica
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| image = Pomegranate fruit.jpg
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|species=granatum
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| image_caption = Fruit of pomegranate
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|common_name=Pomegranate
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| regnum = [[Plantae]]
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|habit=shrub
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|Min ht box=6
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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|Min ht metric=m
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| subclassis = [[Rosidae]]
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|Max ht box=9
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| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
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|Max ht metric=m
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| familia = [[Lythraceae]]
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|Min wd box=3
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| genus = ''[[Punica]]''
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|Min wd metric=m
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| species = '''''P. granatum'''''
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|Max wd box=5
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| binomial = Punica granatum
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|Max wd metric=m
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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|origin=Iran to the western Himalaya
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|lifespan=perennial
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|exposure=sun
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|water=moist, moderate, dry
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|features=flowers, edible, fruit
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|flowers=red, double
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|Min Temp Num=0
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|Temp Metric=°C
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|min_zone=9
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|max_zone=11
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|sunset_zones=5-31, warmer 32
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|image=Pomegranate fruit.jpg
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|image_width=240
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|image_caption=Pomegranate fruit
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Pomegranate''' (''Punica granatum'') is a [[fruit]]-bearing [[deciduous]] [[shrub]] or small [[tree]] growing to 5–8 m tall. The pomegranate is native from [[Iran]] to the Himalayas in northern [[India]] and has been cultivated and naturalized over the whole [[Mediterranean]] region including [[Azerbaijan]] since ancient times. It is widely cultivated throughout Iran, India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa. The tree was introduced into California by Spanish settlers in 1769. In the United States, it is grown for its fruits mainly in the drier parts of California and Arizona.  
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{{Inc|
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Punica granatum, Linn. Pomegranate. A large deciduous shrub or small tree, with oblong or obovate, obtuse, entire, glabrous and more or less shining lvs. : fls. orange-red, showy; calyx tubular, the short lobes persistent on the top of the fr. (as on an apple); petals inserted between the lobes; ovary imbedded in the calyx-tube (or receptacle-tube), comprising several locules or compartments in two series (one series above the other), ripening into a large, juicy, many-seeded pome-like berry. Persia to N. W. India.—A handsome plant, with showy fls. 1 in. across in summer. Hardy as far. north as Washington and Baltimore. It is also grown as a conservatory plant, blooming in winter as well as in summer. For ornament, the double-flowering kinds are the most popular (F.S. 13:1385, as P. Granatum Legrellei). There are many varieties. The treatment of the fruit-bearing varieties is discussed under Pomegranate. Var. nana, Hort. (P. nana, Linn.). Dwarf Pomegranate. Seldom growing higher than a man, and usually treated as a pot-plant in the N. It is the best kind for greenhouse use. The double-fld. form is most common. It is as hardy as the species, and is suitable for outdoor work where the climate is not too severe. On the Pacific Coast it is grown as a hedge-plant as far north as San Francisco. Both this and the species are easily grown by cuttings of dormant wood, as currants are, but the cuttings should be started indoors with some heat.
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'''Growth Habits:''' The pomegranate is a neat, rounded shrub or small tree that can grow to 6-9m, but is more typically to 2-4m in height. A dwarf variety, var. ''nana'' (syn. ''Punica nana''), only 1-2m tall is often grown, and breeds true from seed. It is usually deciduous, but in certain areas the leaves will persist on the tree. The trunk is covered by a red-brown bark which later becomes gray. The branches are stiff, angular and often spiny. There is a strong tendency to sucker from the base. Pomegranates are also long-lived. There are specimens in Europe that are known to be over 200 years old. The growth rate declines after about 15 years, however.
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'''Foliage:''' The pomegranate has glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped, 3-8cm long and 0.8-2.5cm broad, with a very short petiole; they are arranged in opposite pairs, occasionally sub-alternate.
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'''Flowers:''' The flowers are attractive, usually scarlet, occasionally pink, white or variegated, 3cm across, and normally have five petals (to eight or more in some cultivars) with a crumpled texture and a red, fleshy, tubular calyx which persists on the fruit. The flowers may be solitary or grouped in twos and threes at the ends of the branches. The pomegranate is self-pollinated as well as cross-pollinated by insects. Cross-pollination increases the fruit set. Wind pollination is insignificant.
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==Foliage and fruit==
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'''Fruit:''' The fruit is nearly round, 6-12cm diameter, crowned at the apex by the prominent calyx. The tough, leathery skin or rind is typically yellow overlaid with light or deep pink or rich red. The interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp or aril. In each sac there is one angular, soft or hard seed. High temperatures are essential during the fruiting period to get the best flavour. The pomegranate may begin to bear one year after planting out, but 2½ to 3 years is more common. Under suitable conditions the fruit should mature from 5–7 months after bloom.  
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[[Image:Illustration Punica granatum2.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Illustration by [[Otto Wilhelm Thomé]], 1885.]]
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The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or sub-opposite, glossy, narrow oblong, entire, 3&ndash;7&nbsp;cm long and 2&nbsp;cm broad. The [[flower]]s are bright red, 3&nbsp;cm in diameter, with five petals (often more on cultivated plants). The [[fruit]] is between an [[orange (fruit)|orange]] and a [[grapefruit]] in size, 7&ndash;12&nbsp;cm in diameter with a rounded hexagonal shape, and has thick reddish skin and around 600 [[seed]]s. <ref>[http://www.aquaphoenix.com/misc/pomegranate/ How many seeds does a pomegranate have? (statistical analysis)], demonstrating parietal placentation.</ref>  The edible parts are the seeds and the red seed pulp surrounding them.  There are some [[cultivars]] which have been introduced that have a range of pulp colours like purple.  
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The only other species in the genus ''[[Punica]]'', Socotra Pomegranate (''Punica protopunica''), is [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to the island of [[Socotra]]. It differs in having pink (not red) flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit. Pomegranates are drought tolerant, and can be grown in dry areas with either a Mediterranean winter rainfall climate or in summer rainfall climates. In wetter areas, they are prone to root decay from [[fungus|fungal]] diseases. They are tolerant of moderate frost, down to about −10°C.
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'''Adaptation:''' The Pomegranate is native to southwestern Asia, but has been cultivated for thousands of years west across the Mediterranean region in southern Europe and northern Africa. It prefers a semi-arid mild-temperate to subtropical climate and are naturally adapted to regions with cool winters and hot summers. A humid climate adversely affects the formation of fruit. The tree can be severely injured by temperatures below about -10° to -12°C. In Europe, pomegranates can be grown outside as far north as southern England, and in North America as far north as southern Utah and Washington D.C., but they seldom set fruit in these areas. The tree adapts well to container culture and will sometimes fruit in a greenhouse. The dwarf var. ''nana'' is less hardy, being damaged by temperatures below about -5°C.
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==Etymology==
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{{Inc|
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{{nutritionalvalue | name=Pomegranate, aril only | kJ=285 | protein=0.95 g | fat=0.3 g | carbs=17.17 g | fiber=0.6 g | | sugars=16.57 g | iron_mg=0.30 | calcium_mg=3 | magnesium_mg=3 | phosphorus_mg=8 | potassium_mg=259 | zinc_mg=0.12 | vitC_mg=6.1 | pantothenic_mg=0.596 | vitB6_mg=0.105 | folate_ug=6 | thiamin_mg=0.030 | riboflavin_mg=0.063 | niacin_mg=0.300 | right=1 | source_usda=1 }}
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Pomegranate is the vernacular of Punica granatum, a small tree of southern Asia, grown both for ornament and for its edible fruit. It is somewhat grown in the open in the southern states, and also as a pot- or tub-plant in greenhouses in the North.
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The name "pomegranate" derives from [[Latin (language)|Latin]] ''pomum'' ("apple") and ''granatus'' ("seeded").  This has influenced the common name for pomegranate in many languages (e.g. [[German language|German]] ''Granatapfel'', seeded apple). The genus name ''Punica'' is named for the [[Phoenicians]], who were active in broadening its cultivation, partly for religious reasons; consequently in classical Latin the fruit's name was ''malum punicum'' or ''malum granatum'', where "malum" was broadly applied to many apple-like fruits.  
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A separate, widespread root for "pomegranate" is the Egyptian and Semitic ''rmn''.  Attested in Ancient [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]], in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''rimmôn'', and in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''rummân'', this root was brought by Arabic to a number of languages, including [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (''romã'')<ref>Habeeb Salloum  [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200102/arabian.memories.in.portugal.htm Arabian Memories in Portugal]</ref>, and [[Kabyle language|Kabyle]] ''rrumman'' and [[Maltese Language|Maltese]] "rumen".
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According to the ''[[OED]]'', the weapon [[grenade]] derived its name, attested in 1532, from the French name for the fruit, which is ''la grenade'' (from which also comes the name applied to a kind of syrup, originally pomegranate syrup, widely used in cocktails and [[grenadine]]).
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The natural habit of the pomegranate is of rather bushy growth, but by careful training a tree 15 to 20 feet may be produced. This, however, seems possible only in the southern sections of the United States. A great many shoots spring from the base of the plant; these should be cut out, as it is contended that they withdraw the nutriment which should go to the fruit- bearing stems. The branches are slender, twiggy, nearly cylindrical, somewhat thorny. The leaves are lanceolate, long, narrow, glossy green and with red veins. The flowers have a red thick fleshy calyx, crowned with bright scarlet crumpled petals and numerous stamens. The fruit is globular, topped with a crown-like calyx, and the interior consists of numerous seeds enveloped in a bright crimson or pink-colored pulp, seeds being arranged in segments, separated by a thin skin, and very acid in the typical variety. A cooling acescent drink, known as granadine, is made from the pulpy seeds, with the addition of water and sugar. This is much used in the South, and in certain parts of Europe, and is especially grateful in fevers. This plant will succeed as far as the 35th degree of latitude north, but during extreme cold periods, the plants are sometimes injured by cold in that latitude. For higher latitudes it should be cultivated in tubs, and given a conservatory during winter. For some sections of the South it is used for hedges. The fruit begins to ripen about September and can be kept for several weeks.
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Even though this fruit does not originate from China, one common nickname is "Chinese apple"
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The pomegranate is multiplied by hardwood cuttings planted in open ground during February, or by layers and also by softwood cuttings during summer. As the plant forms many shoots, these are often used, as they usually are provided with rootlets. In Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and some of the other southern states, pomegranates are grown commercially and are shipped to the northern and eastern markets. There is a growing demand for the fruit of the pomegranate.
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In Jamaica, this fruit is commonly refered to as the "pan-ga-nat".
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Tne pomegranate is supposed to have been introduced into southern Europe by the Carthaginians, whose Latin name of "Punicus" was thus given and derived. A reference is also found in the sacred scriptures. Theophrastus described it 300 years before the Christian era, and Pliny considered it one of the most valuable fruits, both as to its beauty and medicinal properties. The bark of the root is a well-known astringent employed in therapeutics, in dysentery and diarrhea; the rind of the fruit, when boiled, has for many generations past been the remedy for tenia, and a jet-black smooth writing ink is also made of it.
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==Cultivation and uses==
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The pomegranate is a native of some parts of Asia, and by some botanical authors is said to be found also in northern Africa and China. Although of such ancient origin and cultivation, there are but few varieties of the fruit-bearing section disseminated in this country and Europe, but, according to Firminger, several fine varieties have been grown in Bengal from seed brought from Cabul, one being seedless, another growing to the size of "an ordinary human head" and still another as large as a small shaddock.
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[[Image:Punica.granatum(04).jpg|thumb|left|Pomegranate leaves]]
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[[Image:Punica.granatum(01).jpg|thumb|left|Pomegranate tree]]
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The pomegranate originated from [[Persia]] ([[Iran]]) and has been cultivated in [[Central Asia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]] and the [[Mediterranean region]] for several millennia.<ref>S. D. Doijode, ''Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops'', p. 77</ref>
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In [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Armenia]] to the east of the [[Black Sea]], there are wild pomegranate groves outside of ancient abandoned settlements.  The cultivation of the pomegranate has a long history in Armenia; decayed remains of pomegranates dating back to 1000 BC have been found in the country.<ref>[http://www.armenianow.com/archive/2004/2003/june13/shoppingforasymbol/index.htm The pomegranate in mythology]</ref>
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==Varieties grown for fruit==
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Carbonized pips and pieces of the peel of the fruit has been identified in [[Early Bronze Age]] levels of [[Jericho]], as well as [[Late Bronze Age]] levels of [[Hala Sultan Tekke]] on [[Cyprus]] and [[Tiryns]]. A large, dry pomegranate was found in the tomb of [[Djehuty]], the butler of Queen [[Hatshepsut]]; [[Mesopotamian]] [[cuneiform]] records mention pomegranates from the mid-[[Third millennium BC]] onwards.<ref>[[Daniel Zohary]] and [[Maria Hopf]], ''Domestication of plants in the Old World'', third edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 171.</ref>
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Acid, or Wild. — With a sharp acid pulp: fruit often very large, from 3 to 4 inches diameter and with a bright-colored rind.
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It is also extensively grown in [[Northern and southern China|South China]] and in [[Southeast Asia]], whether originally spread along the route of the [[Silk Road]] or brought by sea traders.  
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The ancient city of [[Granada]] in [[Spain]] was renamed after the fruit during the [[Moors|Moorish]] period. Spanish colonists later introduced the fruit to the [[Caribbean]] and [[Latin America]], but in the English colonies it was less at home: "Don't use the pomegranate inhospitably, a stranger that has come so far to pay his respects to thee" the English [[Quaker]] [[Peter Collinson]] wrote to the botanizing [[John Bartram]] in [[Philadelphia]], 1762. "Plant it against the side of thy house, nail it close to the wall. In this manner it thrives wonderfully with us, and flowers beautifully, and bears fruit this hot year. I have twenty-four on one tree... [[John Fothergill (physician)|Doctor Fothergill]] says, of all trees this is most salutiferous to mankind."<ref> Quoted in [[Ann Leighton]], ''American Gardens in the Eighteenth Century: "For Use or for Delight"'', ([[University of Massachusetts]], 1986), p. 242.</ref> The pomegranate had been introduced as an exotic to England the previous century, by [[John Tradescant the elder]], but the disappointment that it did not set fruit there led to its repeated introduction to the American colonies, even New England. It succeeded in the South: Bartram received a barrel of pomegranates and oranges from a correspondent in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], 1764. [[Thomas Jefferson]] planted pomegranates at [[Monticello]] in 1771: he had them from [[George Wythe]] of Williamsburg.<ref>Leighton, ''American Gardens'', p. 272.</ref>
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Dwarf. — A form of the Acid variety, of very low and bushy growth: flowers single: fruit from l 1/2-2inches diameter; pulp very acid. This can be grown in a pot, as it fruits very abundantly.
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===Culinary use===
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Paper Shell. — Very large, juicy, very sweet, and of excellent quality; skin thin, pale yellow with crimson cheek; sides crimson: fine grower: good bearer and ships well.
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[[Image:Pomegranate03 edit.jpg|thumb|250px|Pomegranate fruit, opened]]
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[[Image:Pomseeds2.jpg|thumb|250px|Pomegranate seeds]]
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Rhoda. — Fruit crimson, of large size; skin thin but tough; crisp, sweet, and of exquisite flavor.
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After opening the pomegranate by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the [[aril]]s (seed casings) are separated from the skin (peel) and internal white supporting structures (pith and carpellary membrane). Separating the red arils can be simplified by performing this task in a bowl of water, whereby the arils will sink and the white structures will float to the top. The entire seed is consumed raw, though the fleshy outer portion of the seed is the part that is desired. The taste differs depending on the variety of pomegranate and its state of ripeness.  It can be very [[Basic taste#sweetness|sweet]] or it can be very [[Basic taste#Sourness|sour]] or [[tangy]], but most fruits lie somewhere in between, which is the characteristic taste, laced with notes of its [[tannin]].
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Spanish Ruby, or Purple-seeded. — As cultivated in Louisiana, seems to be only a form of the Subacid. Fruit large and bright-colored with deep crimson pulp. It is considered the best of its class.
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Subacid. — Differs only from the Sweet in the more acidulated pulp.
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Pomegranate juice is a popular drink in the [[Middle East]], and is also used in [[Iran]]ian and [[India]]n cuisine; it began to be widely marketed in the US in 2004{{Fact|date=March 2007}}. Pomegranate concentrate is used in [[Syria]]n cuisine. [[Grenadine]] syrup is thickened and sweetened pomegranate juice; it is used in [[cocktail]] mixing. Before the tomato arrived in the Middle East, grenadine was widely used in many Persian foods; it can still be found in traditional recipes.  
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Sweet. — Fruit usually somewhat smaller than the Acid and with a darker-colored rind; pulp sweet.
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Wild pomegranate seeds are sometimes used as a spice, known as '''anardana''' (which literally means pomegranate ([[anar]]) seeds (dana) in [[Persian language|Persian]]), most notably in Indian and Pakistani cuisine but also as a replacement for pomegranate syrup in Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine. As a result of this, the dried whole seeds can often be obtained in ethnic markets.  The seeds are separated from the flesh, dried for 10–15 days and used as an acidic agent for chutney and curry production.  The seeds may also be ground in order to avoid seeds becoming stuck in the teeth when eating dishes prepared with them. The seeds of the wild pomegranate ''daru'' from the [[Himalayas]] is considered the highest quality source for this spice.
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Wonderful. — This is said to be the largest of all pomegranates: fruit sometimes 5 inches diameter, bright crimson; pulp highly colored; very juicy; fine flavor: ripens early: good shipper.
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In Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, pomegranate ([[Turkish language|Turkish]]: ''nar''; [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]: ''nar''; [[Armenian language|Armenian]]: ''nur'') is used in a variety of ways, notably as pomegranate juice. In Turkey pomegranate sauce, ([[Turkish language|Turkish]]: ''nar ekşisi'') is used as a salad dressing, to marinate meat, or simply to drink straight. Pomegranate seeds are also used in salads, in Muhammara (Turkish [[Walnut]] [[Garlic]] Spread) and in [[Güllaç]], a famous Turkish dessert. In Azerbaijan and Armenia, pomegranate is also used to make high-quality wine which is successfully exported to other countries.
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All these varieties are very ornamental from their abundant yield of bright scarlet flowers, which are produced upon the extremities of the young branches of the same year's growth. When the plant is grown in a tree form, the branches should be annually cut back after the leaves drop.
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In [[Greece]], pomegranate ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ροδι, rodi) is used in many recipes; such as ''kollivozoumi'', a creamy broth made from boiled wheat, pomegranates and raisins; [[legume]] salad with wheat and pomegranate; traditional Middle Eastern lamb [[kabobs]] with pomegranate glaze; pomegranate [[eggplant]] relish; [[avocado]] and pomegranate dip; are just some of the dishes it is used in culinary. Pomegranate is also made into a [[liqueur]] and popular [[Greek Sweets of the Spoon|fruit confectionery]] that can be used as [[ice cream]] topping, or mixed with [[yogurt]], and even spread as [[jams]] over toast for breakfast.
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Varieties grown for ornament (non-fruiting).
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===Health benefits===
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Double Dwarf, or Punica nana racemosa. — Of dwarf growth, with bright scarlet double flowers, which are borne m clusters. This is especially desirable for growing in pots, as its flowers are abundant and lasting.
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One pomegranate delivers 40% of an adult's daily [[vitamin C]] requirement. It is also a rich source of [[folic acid]] and of [[antioxidant]]s.  Pomegranates are high in [[polyphenol]]s. The most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate are hydrolysable [[tannin]]s, particularly [[punicalagins]], which have been shown in many peer-reviewed research publications to be the [[antioxidant]] responsible for the [[free-radical]] scavenging ability of pomegranate juice.
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Many food and [[dietary supplement]] makers have found the advantages of using pomegranate extracts (which have no sugar, calories, or additives), instead of the juice, as healthy ingredients in their products. Many pomegranate extracts are essentially [[ellagic acid]], which is largely a by-product of the juice extraction process. Ellagic acid has only been shown in published studies to absorb into the body when consumed as ellagitannins such as [[punicalagins]].<ref>Mertens-Talcott S.U. et al.
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Double Red. — With a very large calyx, from which protrude numerous large bright scarlet petals, larger than those of the common single type. These are produced in abundance during summer and fall and resemble a bright scarlet pompon.
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[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17090147&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum  Absorption, metabolism, and antioxidant effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum l.) polyphenols after ingestion of a standardized extract in healthy human volunteers] ''J Agric Food Chem.'' 2006 Nov 15;54(23):8956–61.</ref>
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In several human clinical trials, the juice of the pomegranate has been found effective in reducing several heart risk factors, including [[LDL oxidation]], [[macrophage]] oxidative status, and foam cell formation, all of which are steps in [[atherosclerosis]] and heart disease. Tannins have been identified as the primary components responsible for the reduction of oxidative states which lead to these risk factors.[http://www.nutritionhealthinfo.com/pomegranate/] Pomegranate has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by inhibiting serum angiotension converting enzyme (ACE).<ref>Aviram M, Dornfeld L.
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Double Variegated, or Legrellei. — A very handsome variety with very large flowers, the petals being striped and mottled with vellow and scarlet. Double red blooms will frequently be found on the same stem with variegated blooms. As this is a sport of the Double Red it frequently reverts.
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[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=11500191&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure] ''[[Atherosclerosis]]'' 2001 Sep;158(1):195–8</ref>
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Research suggests that pomegranate juice may be effective against prostate cancer<ref> [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/uow-cpp092205.php Can pomegranates prevent prostate cancer? A new study offers promise] 26 September 2005</ref><ref>BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5132546.stm Juice 'can slow prostate cancer'] 1 July 2006</ref> and osteoarthritis.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050901072114.htm Pomegranate Fruit Shown To Slow Cartilage Deterioration In Osteoarthritis]</ref>
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Double Yellow. — Similar to the above in shape of flower, but latter are of a pale yellow color.
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The juice can also be used as an [[antiseptic]] when applied to cuts{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
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Double White. — Form of flower is similar to Double Red, but color is pure white.
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==Cultivation==
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[[Image:Illustration Punica granatum2.jpg|thumb|120px|Illustration by [[Otto Wilhelm Thomé]], 1885.]]
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[[Image:Punica.granatum(01).jpg|thumb|Pomegranate tree]]
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[[Image:Pomegranate03 edit.jpg|thumb|250px|Pomegranate fruit, opened]]
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'''Location:''' Pomegranates should be placed in the sunniest, warmest part of the yard or orchard for the best fruit, although they will grow and flower in part shade. The attractive foliage, flowers and fruits of the pomegranate, as well as its smallish size make it a excellent landscaping plant.
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Researchers at the University of Wisconsin - Madison recently discovered the potential benefits of pomegranate juice in stopping the growth of lung cancer.<ref>[http://www.news.wisc.edu/13633.html UW study shows pomegranate juice may help fight lung cancer]</ref>
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'''Soil:''' The pomegranate does best in well-drained ordinary soil, but also thrives on calcareous or acidic loam as well as rock strewn gravel.
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==Pomegranates and symbolism==
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'''Irrigation:''' Once established, pomegranates can take considerable drought, but for good fruit production they may need to be irrigated. To establish new plants they should be watered every two to four weeks during the dry season. The plants are tolerant of moderately saline water and soil conditions.
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*[[Exodus]] chapter 28:33–34 directed that images of pomegranates be woven onto the borders of [[Hebrews|Hebrew]] priestly robes. 1 Kings chapter 7:13–22 describes pomegranates depicted in the temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds which corresponds with the [[613 mitzvot]] or [[commandments]] of the [[Torah]]. For this reason and others many Jews eat pomegranates on [[Rosh Hashanah]].
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*For the same reason ({{bibleverse|Exodus|28:33–34}}), pomegranates are a motif found in Christian religious decoration, they are often woven into the fabric on [[vestments]] and [[antependia|liturgical hangings]], and wrought in metalwork.
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'''Fertilizing:''' In the West, the trees are given 60–120g applications of ammonium sulfate or other nitrogen fertilizer the first two springs. After that very little fertilizer is needed, although the plants respond to an annual mulch of rotted manure or other compost.
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*The wild pomegranate did not grow natively in the Aegean area in [[Neolithic]] times. It originated in the [[Iranian]] east and came to the Aegean world along the same cultural pathways that brought the goddess whom the [[Anatolia]]ns worshipped as [[Cybele]] and the [[Mesopotamia]]s as [[Ishtar]].  
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'''Pruning:''' Plants can be cut back when they are about 0.5-1m high. From this point allow four or five shoots to develop, which should be evenly distributed around the stem to keep the plant well balanced. These should start about 30cm from the ground, giving a short but well-defined trunk. Any shoots which appear above or below can be removed as should any suckers. Since the fruits are borne only at the tips of new growth, it is recommended that for the first three years the branches be judiciously shortened annually to encourage the maximum number of new shoots on all sides, prevent straggly development and achieve a strong well framed plant. After the thirrd year, only suckers and dead branches are removed.  
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*The myth of [[Persephone]], the dark goddess of the Underworld, also prominently features the pomegranate. In one version of [[Greek mythology]], [[Persephone]] was kidnapped by Hades and taken off to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother, [[Demeter]] (goddess of the Harvest), went into mourning for her lost daughter and thus all green things ceased to grow. [[Zeus]], the highest ranking of the Greek gods, could not leave the Earth to die, so he commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule of the [[Fates]] that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but [[Hades]] tricked her into eating four pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner and so, because of this, she was condemned to spend four months in the Underworld every year. During these four months, when [[Persephone]] is sitting on the throne of the Underworld next to her husband [[Hades]], her mother [[Demeter]] mourns and no longer gives fertility to the earth. This be
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'''Harvest:''' The fruits are ripe when they have developed a distinctive colour and make a metallic sound when tapped. The fruits must be picked before over maturity when they tend to crack open, particularly when rained on. The pomegranate is equal to the apple in having a long storage life. It is best maintained at a temperature of 1° to 5°C and can be kept for a period of 7 months within this temperature range and at 80 to 85% relative humidity without shrinking or spoiling. The fruits improve in storage, becoming juicier and with more flavour.  
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came an ancient Greek explanation for the seasons.
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:It should be noted that the number of seeds that Persephone ate is varied, depending on which version of the story is told. The number of seeds she is said to have eaten ranges from three to seven, which accounts for just one barren season if it is just three or four seeds, or two barren seasons (half the year) if she ate six or seven seeds. There is no set number.
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===Propagation===
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The pomegranate can be raised from seed but may not come true. Cuttings root easily and plants from them bear fruit after about 3 years. Cuttings 30-50cm long should be taken in late winter from mature, one-year old wood. The leaves should be removed and the cuttings treated with rooting hormone and inserted about two-thirds their length into the soil or into some other warm rooting medium. Plants can also be air-layered but grafting is seldom successful.
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*The pomegranate also evoked the presence of the Aegean [[Triple Goddess]] who evolved into the Olympian [[Hera]], who is sometimes represented offering the pomegranate, as in the Polykleitos' [[cult image]] of the Argive [[Heraion]] (see below). According to  [[Carl A. P. Ruck]] and [[Danny Staples]], the chambered pomegranate is also a surrogate for the poppy's [[opium|narcotic capsule]], with its comparable shape and chambered interior.<ref>Ruck and Staples, ''The World of Classical Myth'', 1994.</ref> On a Mycenaean seal illustrated in [[Joseph Campbell]]'s ''Occidental Mythology'' 1964, figure 19, the seated Goddess of the double-headed axe (the [[labrys]]) offers three poppy pods in her right hand and supports her breast with her left. She embodies both aspects of the dual goddess, life-giving and death-dealing at once. The Titan [[Orion (mythology)|Orion]] was represented as "marrying" [[Side]], a name that in Boeotia means "pomegranate", thus consecrating the primal hunter to the Goddess. Other Greek dialects call the pomegranate ''rhoa''; its possible connection with the name of the earth goddess [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]], inexplicable in Greek, proved suggestive for the mythographer [[Karl Kerenyi]], who suggested that the consonance might ultimately derive from a deeper, [[pre-Indo-European|pre-Indo-European language]] layer.
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* http://elp.tamu.edu/files/2010/10/Pomegranate-Propagation-2013.pdf
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* http://www.gardenguides.com/92887-propagate-pomegranate-trees.html
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[[Image:Pomegranate opened.jpg|thumb|Pomegranate — opened up]]
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===Pests and diseases===
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*In the sixth century BCE, [[Polykleitos]] took ivory and gold to sculpt the seated [[Argive]] Hera in her temple. She held a scepter in one hand and offered a pomegranate, like a royal orb, in the other. "About the pomegranate I must say nothing," whispered the traveller [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] in the second century AD, "for its story is something of a mystery." Indeed, in the Orion story we hear that Hera cast pomegranate-Side into dim [[Erebus]] &mdash; "for daring to rival Hera's beauty", which forms the probable point of connection with the older Osiris/Isis story. Since the ancient Egyptians identified the Orion constellation in the sky as [[Sah]] the "soul of [[Osiris]]", the identification of this section of the myth seems relatively complete. Hera wears, not a wreath nor a tiara nor a diadem, but clearly the [[calyx (flower)|calyx]] of the pomegranate that has become her serrated crown.<ref>The pomegranate has a calyx shaped like a crown. In Jewish tradition it has been seen as the original "design" for the proper crown. [http://www.bj.org/parashat_hashavua/parashat_tetzaveh_5765.php]</ref> In some artistic depictions, the pomegranate is found in the hand of  [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]], mother of Jesus.
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Pomegranates are relatively free of most pests and diseases. Minor problems are leaf and fruit spot and foliar damage by white flies, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects. The roots are seldom bothered by rodents but deer will browse on the foliage.  
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*In modern times the pomegranate still holds strong symbolic meanings for the Greeks. On important days in the [[Greek Orthodox]] calendar, such as the Presentation of the [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] and on [[Christmas Day]], it is traditional to have at the dinner table ''"polysporia"'', also known by their ancient name "panspermia" in some regions of Greece. In ancient times they were offered to [[Demeter]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}} and to the other gods for fertile land, for the spirits of the dead and in honor of compassionate [[Dionysus]]. In modern times the symbolic meaning is assumed by [[Jesus]] and his mother Mary. Pomegranates are also prominent at Greek weddings and funerals. When Greeks commemorate their dead, they make ''"kollyva"'' as offerings that consist of boiled wheat, mixed with sugar and decorated with pomegranate. It is also traditional in Greece to break a pomegranate on the ground at weddings, on New Years and when one buys a new home for a house guest to bring as a first gift a pomegranate which is placed under/near the '''[[ikonostasi]]''', (home altar), of the house, as it is a symbol of abundance, fertility and good luck. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very common in Greece and sold in most homegoods stores. [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:CehRcicwl6gJ:www.christmasmagazine.com/en/spirit/xmas_greece.asp+pomegranate+New+Years+Greek+good+luck&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9]
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==Cultivars==
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*'Balegal' - Originated in San Diego, Calif. Large, roundish fruit, 8cm diameter. Somewhat larger than 'Fleshman'. Skin pale pink, lighter then 'Fleshman'. Flesh slightly darker than 'Fleshman', very sweet.
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*'Cloud' - From the Univ. of Calif., Davis pomegranate collection. Medium-sized fruit with a green-red colour. Juice sweet and white.
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*'Crab' - From the Univ. of Calif., Davis pomegranate collection. Large fruit have red juice that is tart but with a rich flavour. A heavy bearing tree.
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*'Early Wonderful' - Large, deep-red, thin-skinned, delicious fruit. Ripens about 2 weeks ahead of 'Wonderful'. Medium-sized bush with large, orange-red fertile flowers. Blooms late, very productive.
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*'Fleshman' - Originated in Fallbrook, Calif. Large, roundish fruit, about 8cm diameter, pink outside and inside. Very sweet, seeds relatively soft, quality very good.
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*'Francis' - Originated in Jamaica via Florida. Large, sweet, split-resistant fruit. Prolific producer.
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*'Granada' - Originated in Lindsay, Calif. Introduced in 1966. Bud mutation of 'Wonderful'. Fruit resembles Wonderful, but displays a red crown while in the green state, darker red in colour and less tart. Ripens one month earlier than 'Wonderful'. Flowers also deeper red. Tree identical to 'Wonderful'.  
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*'Green Globe' - Originated in Camarillo, Calif. Large, sweet, aromatic, green-skinned fruit. Excellent quality.
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*'Home' - From the Univ. of Calif., Davis pomegranate collection. The fruit is variable yellow-red, with light pink juice that is sweet and of rich flavour. Some bitterness.
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*'King' - From the Univ. of Calif., Davis pomegranate collection. Medium to large fruit, somewhat smaller than 'Balegal' and 'Fleshman'. Skin darker pink to red. Flavour very sweet. Has a tendency to split. Bush somewhat of a shy bearer.
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*'Legrelliae' - Flowers double, salmon-pink variegated with white; sterile. Grown for its flower display.
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*'Phoenicia' ('Fenecia') - Originated in Camarillo, Calif. Large fruit, 4-5 inches in diameter, mottled red-green skin. Flavour sweet, seeds relatively hard.
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*'Plena' - Flowers large, double, bright orange-red; sterile. Widely grown for its flower display.
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*'Sweet' - Fruit is lighter in colour than 'Wonderful', remains slightly greenish with a red blush when ripe. Pink juice, sweeter than most other cultivars. Excellent in fruit punch. Trees highly ornamental, bears at an early age, productive.
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*'Utah Sweet' - Very sweet, good quality fruit. Pink skin and pulp. Seeds notably softer than those of Wonderful and other standard cultivars. Attractive pinkish-orange flowers.
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*'Wonderful' - Originated in Florida. First propagated in California in 1896. Large, deep purple-red fruit. Rind medium thick, tough. Flesh deep crimson, juicy and of a delicious vinous flavour. Seeds not very hard. Better for juicing than for eating out of hand. Plant is vigorous and productive. Leading commercial variety in California.
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== Other ==
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==Gallery==
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[[Image:WhitePomegranate.JPG|thumb|Tree of the white pomegranate.]]
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<gallery>
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*Pomegranate is one of the symbols of [[Armenia]], representing fertility, abundance and marriage.
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Image:Pomseeds2.jpg|Pomegranate seeds
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* It is the official logo of many cities in [[Turkey]].
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Image:Pomegranate opened.jpg|Pomegranate — opened up
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*The [[Persian Immortals|Immortals]], an elite infantry unit in ancient [[Persian Empire|Persia]] had spears with pomegranate-shaped counterweights at the butt made of gold (for officers) and silver (for regular infantry).  In modern Iran the fruit is still believed to give long and healthy life.
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Image:WhitePomegranate.JPG|Tree of the white pomegranate
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*The [[Qur'an]] mentions pomegranates three times (6:99, 6:141, 55:068) — twice as examples of the good things God creates, once as a fruit found in the Garden of Paradise.
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Image:Punica.granatum(04).jpg|Pomegranate leaves
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*Pomegranate juice stains clothing permanently unless it is washed out immediately with water — only bleach can remove stains.
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</gallery>
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*Pomegranate juice is used for natural [[dyeing]] of non-[[Synthetic fiber|synthetic fabric]]s.
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*Pomegranate juice is sold in the USA under several labels, and is available in [[health food]] stores and [[supermarket]]s across the country.
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*Pomegranate juice will turn [[blue]] when subjected to [[Base (chemistry)|basic]] (ie alkaline) conditions (similar to [[litmus paper]]).
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*Although not native to [[China]], [[Korea]] or [[Japan]], the pomegranate is widely grown there and many cultivars have been developed. It is widely used for [[bonsai]], because of its flowers and for the unusual twisted bark that older specimens can attain.
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* The pomegranate also gave its name to the [[hand grenade]] from its shape and size (and the resemblance of a pomegranate's seeds to a grenade's fragments), and to the [[garnet]] from its colour.  In many languages (including Belarusian, Spanish, French, Polish, and [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]) the words are exactly the same.
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*Balaustines are the [[red]] [[rose|rose-like]] [[flower]]s of the pomegranate, which are very bitter to the taste. In medicine, its dried form has been used as an [[astringent]].<ref>[http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech000900240228&isize=L History of Science: Cyclopædia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences…]</ref> (The term "balaustine" ([[Latin language|Latin]]: ''balaustinus'') is also used for a pomegranate-red colour.<ref>Pavey, Don and Roy Osborne. 2003. ''On Colours 1528: A Translation from Latin''. ISBN 1-58112-580-1</ref>)
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*The pomegranate was the personal emblem of the Holy Roman Emperor, [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]].
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*With the rise in popularity of the pomegranate in American markets, [[Starbucks]] introduced a pomegranate frappuccino in the summer of 2006.
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*In the Northern hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to January. In the Southern hemisphere, it is in season from March to May.
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*The pomegranate is a divine symbol in Pinto Ricardo's series, [[The Stone Dance of the Chameleon]].
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*The pomegranate is one of the symbols of Hera.
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*The pomegranate is also called the Food of the Dead.
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*In Orthodox Christian [[memorial service (Orthodox)|memorial services]] pomegranate seeds will often be put in the [[koliva]] which is blessed after the service and eaten by all of the mourners.
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==Notes==
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==References==
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{{Reflist}}
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*[http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pomegranate.html California Rare Fruit Growers: Pomegranate Fruit Facts]
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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== References and external links ==
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==External links==
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{{commons|Punica_granatum}}
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*{{wplink}}
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{{Wikibookspar|Cookbook|Pomegranate}}
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{{wiktionary}}
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* Graham, S. A., J. Hall, K. Sytsma & S. Shi. 2005. Phylogenetic analysis of the Lythraceae based on four gene regions and morphology. ''Int. J. Pl. Sci''. 166: 995–1017.
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* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pomegranate.html Pomegranate Fruit Facts]
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*[http://www.reproductionsart.com/subj_art_reproductions.php?id_subjects=10&stt=10&art=Salvador_Dali_DAS001&forder=1&number=DAS001 Pomegranate in Dali's painting]
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* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6411097 Pomegranates: Jewels in the Fruit Crown]
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* [http://altmedicine.about.com/b/a/257681.htm  A small caution: Pomegranate Juice and Medication Can Be a Dangerous Mix]
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[[Category:Lythraceae]]
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__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Spices]]
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[[Category:Fruit]]
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[[Category:Flora of Armenia]]
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[[Category:Fruits of Iran]]
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[[Category:Lythraceae]]
 
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