Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing plant in the Lythraceae family. It is a small tree or shrub reaching a height of 2–5 meters, featuring a woody trunk and brittle, angular, heavily branched twigs. Spines are found at the leaf axils; these are brown when young and turn green with age.

P. granatum has simple, clustered leaves with short stalks. The leaf blades range from oblong to lanceolate in shape, with a tapering base, a blunt tip, and entire (smooth) margins. They feature pinnate venation and a glossy surface, measuring 1–9 cm in length and 0.5–2.5 cm in width, and are green in color. The flowers are solitary, short-stalked, and emerge at the tips of twigs or from the uppermost leaf axils; they typically appear in clusters of 1–5 and come in red, white, or purple.

The fruit is a berry—round with a diameter of 5–12 cm—featuring a skin that can be greenish-purple, white, reddish-brown, or blackish-purple, sometimes marked with darker, raised patches. It contains numerous small, irregularly arranged seeds that are elongated-round, angular, slightly flattened, and hard; they range in color from red or pink to white.

This species grows at elevations of 1–1,000 meters in loose, well-drained soil with a shallow water table. Propagation is achieved through cuttings, root suckers, or air layering. It is frequently cultivated as an ornamental plant, a medicinal herb, and a source of edible fruit. The fruit is consumed fresh or used in rujak (spicy fruit salad), salads, and juices.

The fruit is used to moisturize the skin, promote skin regeneration, reduce signs of aging, treat acne-related inflammation, and stimulate collagen production. Fruit juice is used to alleviate sore throats. The fruit is rich in antioxidants, which help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol). The fruit also helps prevent cancer, aids in weight loss, boosts the immune system, lowers high blood pressure, and alleviates arthritis and joint pain.

The fruit pulp is rich in potassium ions, vitamins A, C, and E, and folic acid. Per 100 grams, the seeds contain potassium (259 mg), 63 calories of energy, and 30 mg of vitamin C.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Punica L. in Sp. Pl.: 472 (1753)
Species: Punica granatum L. in Sp. Pl.: 472 (1753)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Rhoea punica St.-Lag. in Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon 7: 133 (1880)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Granatum punicum St.-Lag. (1880)
Punica florida Salisb. in Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 354 (1796)
Punica granatum var. acidula Risso in Hist. Nat. Prod. Eur. Mérid. 2: 179 (1826)
Punica granatum var. alba Risso (1826)
Punica granatum f. albescens (DC.) Rehder in Bibliogr. Cult. Trees: 484 (1949)
Punica granatum var. albescens DC. in Prodr. 3: 4 (1828)
Punica granatum var. flava Loudon in Arbor. Frutic. Brit. 2: 940 (1838)
Punica granatum f. flavescens (Sweet) Rehder (1949)
Punica granatum var. flavescens Sweet in Sweet's Hort. Brit., ed. 2.: 195 (1830)
Punica granatum var. frutescens Siebold & Zucc. in Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 4(2): 133 (1845)
Punica granatum var. legrelliae Lem. in Ill. Hort. 5: t. 156 (1858)
Punica granatum f. legrelliae (Lem.) Rehder (1949)
Punica granatum var. lutea Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. macrocarpa Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. microcarpa Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. militensis Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. multiplex Sweet (1830)
Punica granatum f. multiplex (Sweet) Rehder (1949)
Punica granatum var. nana (L.) Pers. in Syn. Pl. 2: 33 (1806)
Punica granatum var. parvifolia Risso (1826)
Punica granatum f. plena Voss in K.Putlitz & L.Meyer, Landlexikon 3: 260 (1912)
Punica granatum var. pleniflora Hayne in Getreue Darstell. Gew. 10: t. 35 (1827)
Punica granatum f. pleniflora (Hayne) Rehder (1949)
Punica granatum var. pumila Weinm. in Syll. Pl. Nov. 2: 22 (1825)
Punica granatum var. sanguinea Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. sativum K.Malý in Syst. Beschr. Österr. Med. Pfl.: 138 (1863)
Punica granatum var. semiplena Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. semperflorens Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. variegata Risso (1826)
Punica granatum var. vulgaris Risso (1826)
Punica grandiflora Steud. in Nomencl. Bot. 1: 669 (1821)
Punica legrellei J.N.Haage & E.Schmidt in Pflanzenverzeichniss 1875: 2 (1875)
Punica multiflora Voss in Vilm. Blumengärtn., ed. 3. 1: 324 (1894)
Punica nana L. in Sp. Pl., ed. 2.: 676 (1762)
Punica spinosa Lam. in Fl. Franç. 3: 483 (1779)

PUBLICATIONS

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VERNACULAR NAME

Afrikaans: Granaat, Granaatappel
Arabic: Rummaan
Armenian: Նուր Nur
Assamese: Anar, Dalim, Darimbo, Bedana
Awadhi: Anaar
Belarusian: Гранат звычайны
Bengali: বেদানা Bedana
Bhojpuri: Anaar
Bodo: Daalim
Burmese: ဆာလီဘင် - တာလီဘန် Salebin, Talibin
Catalan: Magraner
Chinese (simplified): 安石榴 - 石榴
Chinese (traditional): 安石榴 - 石榴
Croatian: Mogranj, Nar
Czech: Marhaník granátový
Danish: Granatæble
Dimasa: Dalem
Dogri: Darooni
Dutch: Granaatappel
English: Pomegranate
Estonian: Harilik granaadipuu
Filipino: Granada
Finnish: Granaattiomena
French: Grenadier commun, Grenadier
Garhwali: Daadheem, Dadhamya
Garo: Dalim Bite
German: Granatapfel
Greek: Ροδιά
Guangdong: 安石榴
Hebrew: רימון מצוי
Hindi: अनार - दलिमा - अनार - स्वप्न - हिन्दी Anar, Dalima, Anaar, Darim, Hindir
Hmar: Theibufai
Hong Kong: 安石榴
Hungarian: Gránátalma
Indonesia: Delima
Italian: Melograna, Melograno
Japanese: ザクロ
Java: Delimo
Kachchhi: Dadam
Kannada: Dhalambare hannu, Dalimbre, Daalimbe
Karbi: Dalim
Kashmiri: Anaar, Naar
Khmer: តូតុម Totüm
Konkani: Daaliimb
Korean: 석류나무
Kumaoni: Darim
Lao: ຟີລາ Ph'iilaa
Lithuanian: Paprastasis granatmedis
Macao: 安石榴
Maithili: Anaar
Malayalam: Atthazhachakka, Dadiman, Mathalam, Mathalanaregam, Pumathalam, Urumbumathalam, Urumathalam, Thalimathalam, Daadimam, Maathalanaarakam, Urumaanpazham
Malaysia: Delima
Manipuri: Kaphoi
Marathi: Anaar, Daalimb
Marwari: Daaram
Mishing: Dalim
Mizo: Theibuhfai
Nagamese: Taliim-Tong
Nepali: दारिम Daarim
Odia: Anaara, Daalimba
Oria: Dalim, Dalimba
Palauan: Keralladang
Pali: Daalima
Persian: انار - نار - تاگ Anar, Naar, Taag
Polish: Granat właściwy, Granatowiec właściwy
Portuguese: Romãzeira
Punjabi: Anar, Danu, Dariun, Daru
Rajasthani: Daarayum
Russian: Гранат обыкновенный
Sanskrit: Dadima, Dantabija, Dashanabija, Hindira, Kuchaphala, Kuttima, Nirasa, Satphala, Vrttaphala
Santali: Anar, Dalim
Sindhi: Aanaru, Daaroon
Sinhala: දෙලුම්
Slovak: Granátovník púnsky
Slovenian: Granatovec
Spanish: Granada, Granada cordelina
Sranan Tongo: Granakibon
Swedish: Granatäpple
Taiwan: 安石榴
Tamil: மாதுளை - மாதுளை - மாதுளை Mathulai, Madhulai, Maatulai
Telugu: Danimma, Daanimma
Thai: ทับทิม
Tulu: Daalimbo
Turkish: Mar
Ukrainian: Гранат звичайний
Urdu: انار - دارِم - ہِندِر Anar, Darim, Hindir
Vietnam: Lu'u, Thap lu'u

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