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Pomegranate
Genus: Punica
Family: Lythraceae
• Punica granatum – Pomegranate
• Common variety
• Punica protopunica – Socotra pomegranate
• Smaller, less sweet fruit
Classification and
Relatives
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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
History of 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)
Cultivation
• 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.
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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.
Characteristics
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Cooking
Baking
Juices
Smoothies
Alcoholic beverages such and martinis and wine
Uses
• Preliminary research shows that metabolites of
pomegranate juice may:
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Reduce the risks of heart disease
Lower systolic blood pressure
Increase salivary testosterone levels
Affect mood, anxiety or emotions
Potential Health Benefits
• 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.
Historical Facts
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate
• http://archaeology.about.com/od/plthroughpo/qt/pomegra
nate.htm
Sources