Pomegranate PlantThe Pomegranate plant, scientifically known as Punica granatum L., belongs to the Punicaceae family. This plant got its origins from southern Asia. During ancient times, the pomegranate was widely grown from India to the Mediterranean. Spanish missionaries introduced the plant from Spain into the Americas in the 16th century. The vibrant, orange-red colored flowers, and the thick growth habit of the pomegranate make it a striking ornamental. Bushy Shrub Or Small Tree The pomegranate, while it can be cultivated as a small tree, is usually cultivated as a bushy shrub. Its evergreen colored leaves are deciduous and generally glossy. This eye-catching shrub grows to 20 or 30 ft in height. The much-branched, spiny, and long-lived pomegranate has a tendency to sucker from its base. The Pomegranate plant’s main appeal has been as a fruit, which is colored yellow to bright red and up to approximately 4 inches in diameter. The fruit skin is smooth and leathery, with a tubular calyx at the flower end. The seeds are covered by a pink to purple or crimson pulp. This plant is can be found in the tropics, subtropics and sub-temperate areas. It is used to settling in regions with hot and dry summer months. Planting Pomegranate Plant Some types of this cold hardy plant can stand low temperatures like 10 degrees but others can be destroyed at 19 degrees. It is best to grown the pomegranate in full sun. This attractive shrub fairs well to almost any soil with good internal drainage. Although some are content that its pH range is a little acidic to neutral, this plant develops quite well on the rather alkaline soil of northern Mexico and south Texas. If you plant on growing the pomegranate as a small tree, make sure to give it enough space for growing. Healing Benefits of Pomegranate Fruit The pomegranate, which has been primarily attractive as a fruit, is now known as a new medical resource. It is considered a powerful gift of nature to fight a long list of human diseases. Medicinal powers of this plant have been cited in Greek mythology. The Chinese also talk about the pomegranate juice as a longevity drug. The wild pomegranate’s juice produces sodium citrate and citric acid for pharmaceutical uses. The juice can be used in preparations for curing dyspepsia. It is also deemed helpful in leprosy. The bark and root of the plant has numerous alkaloids, counting isopelletierine, which can be used against tapeworms. Pomegranate Extracts of leaves, immature fruit, bark and fruit rink have been used as astringents to stop diarrhea, hemorrhages and dysentery due to their tannin content. Dried and crushed flower buds have also been used to treat bronchitis. In Mexico, to ease oral and throat swelling, they use a decoction of the flowers as gargle. Similar Posts _________________________________________________________________ Top of Pomegranate Plant Listed under Gardening Plants
|