History Of Pomegranates, "Punica Granatum'

Because of the many seeds found infruit drop during the plant's juvenile period (2-3
pomegranate fruits, they were regarded as ayears) is not uncommon. Fruit drop is increased
symbol of fertility by the ancient cultures ofby practices favoring leafy growth such as
Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The Greek writer,over-fertilization and over watering. Avoid putting
Homer, wrote about pomegranates growing atyoung plants under stressful conditions. Mature
Syracuse, on the island of Sicily. The Bible of thetrees set and hold fruit better than younger trees.
Hebrews records many references to theMature pomegranate trees develop a thick bark,
pomegranate, and the image of the fruit waswhich is cold hardy to temperatures tested in
used extensively in molding and stone sculpturesGeorgia and have withstood the zero degrees
found in Solomon's temple at Jerusalem, Israel.Fahrenheit experienced in January of 1984.
Pomegranates, 'Punica granatum,' are nativeYounger shrubs and trees of pomegranate have
shrubs and trees found growing throughout muchthin bark that do not show a high survival rate in
of the Middle East, and much of Europe. Thelower temperatures, but the plant may be
pomegranates appear to be the dominantregenerated from the roots in the spring. Light
landscape trees growing along roadsides ofannual pruning of established trees encourages the
Albania, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and many parts ofdevelopment of good quality fruit. Excessive or
Turkey. The pomegranate trees appeared inlate applications of fertilizer tends to delay fruit
Spain around 800AD by the Moors. Granada,maturity and will reduce color and quality.
Spain, on the coast of the Mediterranean, got itsThe commercial orchard production of
name from the Latin name of the pomegranate,pomegranates is mostly concentrated in California,
'Punica granatum.' The French named the newand the fruit begins to appear in Eastern markets
explosive weapon, hand grenade, after thein mid-October, just in time for the Thanksgiving
Latinized 'Punica granatum,' pomegranate, becauseand Christmas seasons.
the impact from the explosion of the weaponLike picking wild scuppernongs from a childhood
scattered the numerous small pieces of metal likevineyard, this is an experience that children always
the many seeds of the pomegranate fruit.remember--the fun and the fulfillment of the
Cultivated extensively in Spain, pomegranateshappy days during childhood preserved in the
moved with the missionaries into Mexico,memories of growing up. A century ago every
California, and Arizona in the 16th century. Infarmer had a pomegranate plant in his yard that
America pomegranate trees were introduced intohe had grown from a seed. Some of these plants
California by Spanish missionaries in the mid 1700's.developed into bushes and some grew into trees.
Pomegranate fruits are ruby-red fruits about 2 toThe fruit is strange looking in appearance and
5 inches in diameter. They resemble small apples,when opened with a knife appears even stranger
and derive their name from the French word,inside looking like hundreds of juicy red, individual
'Pome,' meaning apple. Fruits have numerouspulpy fruits, each with a removable seed
seeds are each surrounded by a pink toPomegranate juice is one of nature's most
purplish-red, juicy pulp which is the edible portion.powerful antioxidants. Pom Wonderful
The pulp is somewhat puckery to the taste.Pomegranate juice has more naturally occurring
Pomegranates, 'Punica granatum,' are dense,antioxidant power than any other drink, more
bushy shrubs 6 to 12 feet tall with thorny, slenderthan red wine, green tea, blueberry juice and
branches that may be trained into small trees.cranberry juice. Antioxidants help your body guard
Orange-red flowers appear on new growth in theagainst free radicals; molecules that can cause
spring and summer and are bell-shaped andpremature aging, heart disease Alzheimer's, even
vase-shaped. The vase-shaped flowers arecancer. Drink a glass today! Researchers have
normally sterile, so they will not develop into fruit.shown that people who drink 2 oz, of
The fruit contains numerous seeds surrounded bypomegranate juice each day for one week
sweet, pink, juicy, tasty pulp covered withincreased their body antioxidant activity by 9% in
leathery-brown to red, bitter skin, which is easilythe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
peeled. Pomegranate juice stains can be difficult toAnother study (Nov. 2003) showed that
remove from clothing. This juice was used by thepomegranate extract will fight skin cancer at an
ancients as an ink or dye, because of itsAmerican Association for Cancer Research
persistence in staining permanently. The thick skinconference.
surrounding the pomegranate is high in tannins,The pomegranate harvest in 2006 is expected to
and the ancients dried the skins and madebe the largest ever, because of the hype and
leather-like products; the thick skin gives the fruitexcitement generated by the news of the
a long shelf life, lasting up to two months whenspectacular health improvement, that can be
cooled.expected by drinking only 2oz. of pomegranate
When trained as a tree, pomegranates growjuice each day, according to the Pomegranate
toward a bushy habit with many suckers arisingCouncil, based in San Francisco, California.
from the root and crown area. Tree-type plantsAdditional health benefits offered by the
can be produced by allowing only one trunk topomegranate fruit results from the minerals:
develop. Additionally suckers can be removedCalcium, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorus, and the
frequently around the main trunk.Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and
Pomegranate trees pollinate themselves. Severeniacin.