Pomegranate Botanical Name: Benefits, Cultivation & Varieties

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deciduous shrub that bears fruit. It belongs to the subfamily Punicoideae of the Lythraceae family and grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. Since ancient times, the pomegranate has been planted and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region, including Armenia. It is native to Persia, Iran, and the Himalayas in northern India.

Pomegranates have been used for a very long time. Pomegranate was used to treat various diseases like high blood pressure, athletic performance, heart disease, and diabetes in the ancient times.

Key Takeaways: Pomegranate, Angiospermae, Deciduous Shrub, Botany, Tracheophytes, Heart Diseases, Antioxidants

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Classification of Pomegranate

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The characteristics of Pomegranate is given below:

Punica granatum

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Characteristics of Pomegranate

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• The pomegranate is a spine-filled shrub or small tree that can reach a height of up to 10 metres.
• The opposing leaves measure 2 cm in width and 3 -7 cm in length.
• The flowers have three to seven petals, are 3 cm in diameter, and range in colour from yellow to bright red.
• Fruits are berries that range in size from a lemon to a grapefruit and have a tough, leather-like skin that is 5 -12 cm in diameter.
• Fruits contain many seeds with fleshy and edible coats (called sacrotesta).
• A pomegranate can contain anything from 200 to 1400 seeds.

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Pomegranate Diagram

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Cultivation of Pomegranate

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• The pomegranate is said to be native to Iran and its neighbors, it was once grown all the way around the Mediterranean, via the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan, and India. 
• It is widely grown across the Americas, from Chile to the drier regions of the United States
• Pomegranate may grow in a variety of conditions, good fruit can only be produced when the ripening phase is accompanied by high temperatures and a dry atmosphere.
• The finest soils seem to be deep, very heavy loams. 
• It is simple to cultivate seeds, the best types are propagated by cutting and layering. 
• Hardwood cuttings that are rooted in open ground are 250–300 mm (10–12 inches) in length and are used for commercial propagation.

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Varieties of Pomegranate

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The varieties of pomegranate are discussed as follows:

Punica granatum var. nana

• It is a dwarf variety of Punica granatum, A popular ornamental plant for gardens.
• It is also used as a bonsai specimen tree.
• The Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit has been given to punica granatum var. nana.

Punica protopunica

• The Socotran pomegranate (P. protopunica), the only other species in the genus Punica, is endemic to the Socotran archipelago of four islands in the Arabian Sea, the biggest island of which is also referred to as Socotra. The region belongs to Yemen. 
• It varies in having smaller, less delicious fruit and pink (as opposed to red) blooms.

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Health Benefits of Pomegranate

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Pomegranates have been utilized for their medicinal properties for a long time. Pomegranates may even help prevent cancer, according to current scientific research. They can also help protect your heart.

Additionally, other health benefits of pomegranates include the following:

Heart Health

• Pomegranates may benefit the heart in a variety of ways, that also includes decreasing blood pressure and blood sugar levels, according to studies.
• A common cause of heart disease is Atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fat and cholesterol in the arteries.
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol clogs the arteries and it can be reduced by the intake of pomegranate juice.
• Additionally, it can increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Diabetes Control

• According to initial study, people with type 2 diabetes who began to drink pomegranate juice showed an improvement in insulin resistance.
• Pomegranates can also help in maintaining a healthy weight in people without diabetes.

Lowering Risk of Cancer

• Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, both of which are known to prevent free radicals from damaging your cells
• Pomegranates may be useful in avoiding prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancer, according to certain research.

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Different Names of Pomegranate

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The common name of pomegranate in some other languages are as follows:

• French: Grenadier
• German: Granatapfel
• Spanish: Granada
• Italian: Melograno
• Portuguese: Romã
• Swedish: Granatäpple

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Things to Remember

• The botanical name of Pomegranate is Punica granatum.
• A pomegranate is a sweet, tart fruit with thick, red skin.
• Pomegranates are grown on trees. 
• These trees need ample heat to grow and ripen these hard, delicious fruits. 
• Pomegranates are native to the Middle East and some Asian countries, but they can also be produced in the United States.
• Pomegranates can have up to three times more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. 
• It contains antioxidants that protect cells from damage, prevent diseases such as cancer and reduce inflammation and the effects of aging.

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