Scientific name: Punica granatum   

Family: Lythraceae

Origin: Middle East

Popular names: Pomegranate, Romeira.

Naturally occurring: Common in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

Characteristics: it is a tree that reaches 2m to 5m, with a grayish trunk and reddish branches when young, which adapts to both tropical and subtropical climates as well as temperate and Mediterranean ones. The flowers are orange-red and simple, with double-flowered varieties, such as “Legrellei”.

The fruits are spherical, with a leathery and thick skin, yellow or reddish and stained dark. Its interior is composed of many seeds, covered by a thick, pulpy pink or reddish color, with an acid and sweet taste.

Uses: pomegranate is an edible fruit. In the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, the pulp is used for the preparation of appetizers, dessert or, sometimes, in an alcoholic beverage.

Studies have shown that pomegranate is rich in gallic and ellagic acids, substances that can help reduce blood pressure and prevent some cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke, as it reduces levels of LDL cholesterol, which is responsible for clogging blood vessels.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom%C3%A3; https://www.jardineiro.net/plantas/romazeira-punica-granatum.html

See all tree and shrub species mapped on Bahiana