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Pomegranate is the vernacular of Punica Grana- tum, a small tree of southern Asia, grown both for ornament and for its edible fruit (Fig. 3122). See Punica. It is somewhat grown in the open in the southern states, and also as a pot- or tub-plant in greenhouses in the North.
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.
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.
Tne pomegranate is supposed to have been introduced into southern Europe by the Carthaginians, whose Latin name of "Puni- cus" 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.
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.
Varieties grown for fruit.
Acid, or Wild. — With a sharp acid pulp: fruit often very large, from 3 to 4 inches diameter and with a bright-colored rind.
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.
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.
Rhoda. — Fruit crimson, of large size; skin thin but tough; crisp, sweet, and of exquisite flavor.
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.
Subacid. — Differs only from the Sweet in the more acidulated pulp.
Sweet. — Fruit usually somewhat smaller than the Acid and with a darker-colored rind; pulp sweet.
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.
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.
Varieties grown for ornament (non-fruiting).
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.
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.
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.
Double Yellow. — Similar to the above in shape of flower, but latter are of a pale yellow color.
Double White. — Form of flower is similar to Double Red, but color is pure white.
L. A.Berckmans
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_NOTOC__{{Plantbox
| name = ''Punica granatum''
| name = ''Punica granatum''
| common_names = Pomegranate
| common_names = Pomegranate
