Common name: Pomegranate
Punica granatum L. APNI* Description: Deciduous tree or shrub to c. 5 m high.
Leaves shortly petiolate; lamina oblanceolate to elliptic, (2–) 3–7 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide, attenuate at base, obtuse to acute at apex.
Flowers orange-red; sepals triangular, 7–8 mm long, persistent; petals obovate, 2–2.5 cm long, crimped on margin.
Fruit spherical, c. 7 cm diam., brownish yellow flushed with red. Seeds numerous, each surrounded by a juicy translucent pulp.
Distribution and occurrence: sparingly naturalised on Lord Howe Island. Grows in disturbed areas near habitation.
NSW subdivisions: *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *S.A. *W.A.
Cultivated for its edible fruits, including a number of cultivars. Punica was formerly placed in the family Punicaceae.
Text by Peter G. Wilson (2004), based on P.S. Green, Flora of Australia Vol. 49: 202-203 (1994); revised June 2017
Taxon concept: Australian Plant Census (accessed June 2017)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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