Punicaceae: Pomegranate Family

Chapter

Requires Authentication

Punicaceae: Pomegranate Family

or

Purchase Chapter PDF

$42.00

Published by

View more publications by Princeton University Press

To Publisher Page

This chapter is in the book Trees of Western North America

386Punicaceae: Pomegranate FamilypuNicaceae: pomeGraNate familyThis family contains 1 genus and 2 species from Asia and the Indian Ocean; 1 species, Pomegranate, has escaped or naturalized in North America. The Pomegranate has been grown for food and ornament for centuries and is mentioned in the Bible and Quran. The persistent calyx on the fruit was apparently the inspiration for King Solomon’s crown. Recent studies have indicated the Punicaceae could be included within the loosestrife family (Lythraceae).PomegrAnAtePunica granatum L.Deciduous upright, rounded shrub or small, short-trunked tree, 2–8m tall, sometimes spiny. leaf Opposite, often clustered on short shoots, simple, lanceolate to oblanceolate or oblong, lustrous green, hairless. Blade 2–9cm long. flower Bisexual, radial, with a tubular reddish fleshy calyx about 2cm long, 5–9 separate, bright red-orange crinkled petals 15–25mm long, many stamens, and an inferior ovary. May–Jun. fruitRound reddish, yellowish, or whitish leathery berry, 5–12cm diam., crowned at the tip with the remains of the calyx. Seeds numerous, large, em-bedded in a glistening red edible pulp. Habitat/raNGe Introduced from Asia; cultivated, ap-parently occasionally escaping in the s. U.S. from Calif. to N.C., 0–500m.rHamNaceae: bucktHorNfamilyThe buckthorn family includes 50–60 genera and about 900 species of trees, shrubs, and a few climbing vines, widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions. North of Mexico there are about 14 genera, two introduced, and 115 species, 13 introduced. Twenty are trees or are large shrubs that are often arborescent. The genus Ceanothus is the largest on the continent, with 60-plus species.Deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, often thorny. leaf Usually alternate, sometimes opposite; venation is often prominently pinnate or palmate. flowerRadially symmetric, small, bisexual or unisexual, with a hypanthium and often a thick glandular disk; sepals, petals, and stamens number 4 or 5, or sometimes petals are absent. Stamens opposite petals when present, the blade of the petal often enfolding the stamen in young flowers. Ovary superior to inferior. fruit Drupe or dry fruit that splits into several sections.The family produces edible fruits, medicines (mostly purgatives), quality lumber, ornamentals, dyes, and charcoal. The crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ is believed to have been from a member of this family called Jerusalem Thorn or Crown-of-thorns (Paliurus spina-christiMill.).■Ceanothus: WilDlilAcSThere are about 55 species of Ceanothus, all North American, and 45 species in Calif. alone. The genus occurs from sea-level to high elevations in brush and open woodland. It is called “wild lilac” because the conical clusters of flowers resemble those of true lilacs (Syringa, Oleaceae). Most Ceanothus are shrubs, some with thorn-tipped twigs. These are often called buckbrush or buck-thorn. A few may become small trees. leafSimple, alternate or sometimes opposite, with 1 central vein or commonly with 3 main veins. flower Tiny, sky blue to white, bisexual, with 5 more or less petal-like sepals, a glandular disk, 5 petals shaped like miniature wonton spoons, 5 stamens, and a 3-chambered ovary. fruit Small 3-lobed capsule.08 TWNA pp378-453.indd 38624/03/2014 13:00

You are currently not able to access this content.

Not sure if you should have access? Please log in using an institutional account to see if you have access to view or download this content.

Purchase Chapter PDF

$42.00

386Punicaceae: Pomegranate FamilypuNicaceae: pomeGraNate familyThis family contains 1 genus and 2 species from Asia and the Indian Ocean; 1 species, Pomegranate, has escaped or naturalized in North America. The Pomegranate has been grown for food and ornament for centuries and is mentioned in the Bible and Quran. The persistent calyx on the fruit was apparently the inspiration for King Solomon’s crown. Recent studies have indicated the Punicaceae could be included within the loosestrife family (Lythraceae).PomegrAnAtePunica granatum L.Deciduous upright, rounded shrub or small, short-trunked tree, 2–8m tall, sometimes spiny. leaf Opposite, often clustered on short shoots, simple, lanceolate to oblanceolate or oblong, lustrous green, hairless. Blade 2–9cm long. flower Bisexual, radial, with a tubular reddish fleshy calyx about 2cm long, 5–9 separate, bright red-orange crinkled petals 15–25mm long, many stamens, and an inferior ovary. May–Jun. fruitRound reddish, yellowish, or whitish leathery berry, 5–12cm diam., crowned at the tip with the remains of the calyx. Seeds numerous, large, em-bedded in a glistening red edible pulp. Habitat/raNGe Introduced from Asia; cultivated, ap-parently occasionally escaping in the s. U.S. from Calif. to N.C., 0–500m.rHamNaceae: bucktHorNfamilyThe buckthorn family includes 50–60 genera and about 900 species of trees, shrubs, and a few climbing vines, widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions. North of Mexico there are about 14 genera, two introduced, and 115 species, 13 introduced. Twenty are trees or are large shrubs that are often arborescent. The genus Ceanothus is the largest on the continent, with 60-plus species.Deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, often thorny. leaf Usually alternate, sometimes opposite; venation is often prominently pinnate or palmate. flowerRadially symmetric, small, bisexual or unisexual, with a hypanthium and often a thick glandular disk; sepals, petals, and stamens number 4 or 5, or sometimes petals are absent. Stamens opposite petals when present, the blade of the petal often enfolding the stamen in young flowers. Ovary superior to inferior. fruit Drupe or dry fruit that splits into several sections.The family produces edible fruits, medicines (mostly purgatives), quality lumber, ornamentals, dyes, and charcoal. The crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ is believed to have been from a member of this family called Jerusalem Thorn or Crown-of-thorns (Paliurus spina-christiMill.).■Ceanothus: WilDlilAcSThere are about 55 species of Ceanothus, all North American, and 45 species in Calif. alone. The genus occurs from sea-level to high elevations in brush and open woodland. It is called “wild lilac” because the conical clusters of flowers resemble those of true lilacs (Syringa, Oleaceae). Most Ceanothus are shrubs, some with thorn-tipped twigs. These are often called buckbrush or buck-thorn. A few may become small trees. leafSimple, alternate or sometimes opposite, with 1 central vein or commonly with 3 main veins. flower Tiny, sky blue to white, bisexual, with 5 more or less petal-like sepals, a glandular disk, 5 petals shaped like miniature wonton spoons, 5 stamens, and a 3-chambered ovary. fruit Small 3-lobed capsule.08 TWNA pp378-453.indd 38624/03/2014 13:00

You are currently not able to access this content.

Not sure if you should have access? Please log in using an institutional account to see if you have access to view or download this content.

Purchase Chapter PDF

$42.00