Punica

Punica
Punica granatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Lythraceae
Subfamily:	Punicoideae (Horan.) Graham, Thorne & Reveal
Genus:	Punica L.
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Socotria G.M.Levin[1]

Punica is a small genus of fruit-bearing deciduous shrubs or small trees. The better known species is the pomegranate (Punica granatum). The other species, the Socotra pomegranate (Punica protopunica), is endemic to the island of Socotra. It differs in having pink (not red) flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit.

Although previously placed in its own family Punicaceae, recent phylogenetic studies have shown that Punica belongs in the family Lythraceae, and it is classified in that family by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

The name is derived from the Latin word for the pomegranate, malum punicum, meaning "Carthaginian apple".^[2]

Species

• Punica granatum L.
• Punica protopunica Balf.

• 
  Flowers of P. granatum

References

1. "Genus: Punica L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1998-06-02. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
2. Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. 3 M-Q. CRC Press. p. 2230. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6.

• Graham, S. A., Thorne & Reveal (May 1998). "Validation of subfamily names in Lythraceae". Taxon. Taxon, Vol. 47, No. 2. 47 (2): 435–436. doi:10.2307/1223775. JSTOR 1223775.
• Graham S. A.; Hall J.; Sytsma K.; Shi S. (2005). "Phylogenetic analysis of the Lythraceae based on four gene regions and morphology". Int. J. Pl. Sci. 166 (6): 995–1017. doi:10.1086/432631.
• Little S. A.; Stockey R. A.; and Keating; R. C. (2004). "Duabanga-like leaves from the Middle Eocene Princeton chert and comparative leaf histology of Lythraceae sensu lato". American Journal of Botany. 91 (7): 1126–1139. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.7.1126. PMID 21653468.