Fruits name starts with the letter " P "

POMEGRANATE

Pomegranates:  “Jewels In the Fruit Crown ” , “ Jewel of Winter ”.

The fruit its name, derived from the Latin word ‘Pomum Granatum’ which translates as ‘ Fruit with many seeds ’ or ‘ Fruit full of  seeds ’.

Common Names: Pomegranate, Granada(Spanish), Grenade (French) and Chinese apple

Pomegranates originated in tropical Asia and have been grown for over 5,000 years throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The scarlet fruit pulp envelops numerous small and crunchy white seeds or red seeds. It is widely cultivated throughout India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa. The tree was introduced into Californiaby Spanish settlers in 1769. In this country it is grown for its fruits mainly in the drier parts of California and Arizona. Pomegranates are native to southeastern Europe and Asia and were grown in ancient Egypt, Babylon, India, and Iran.

Pomegranate is literally 'crowned' by nature with its beautiful leafing around the haft, but its real crown is constituted by the beneficial nature it has. Pomegranate has been celebrated throughout history: Egyptian papyri, Old Testament (bible), Old Greek Mythology, Roman history all have something to say about this wonderful fruit. Its very name derives from Latin pomum (apple) and granatus (seeded). Fruit full of seeds – precise description of this distinctive fruit.

Pomegranate is a widely cultivated fruit and its nectar is extracted for many commercial uses. An average sized Pomegranate contains approximately   100 - 300 edible seeds under its thick red covering. Pomegranate juice, nectar and extracts are a major raw material of health industry.

Pomegranate tree is a small tree; it is more commonly grown as a bushy shrub. The leaves are deciduous, usually glossy and dark green. The plant may have spines (thorns) along its branches. Its colourful, orange-red flowers and dense, bushy growth habit make pomegranate an attractive ornamental fruit.

The fruit may be yellow to bright red in colour, up to about 4 inches in diameter. The rind is smooth, but leathery, with a persistent, tubular calyx at the blossom end. The numerous seeds are surrounded by a pink to purplish or crimson, pulp which is juicy and subacid.

The pomegranate has been revered as a symbol of health, fertility and rebirth throughout history. Some cultures believed it held profound and mystical healing powers. Many scholars suggest that it was a pomegranate, and not an apple, that Eve used to tempt Adam in the biblical Garden of Eden (Bible). In Islam, the Prophet Mohammed recommended the pomegranate as a means to purge the system of envy and hatred. In Chinese, Hebrew, Greek and Roman lore it is regarded as a symbol of fertility and prosperity, and among the Japanese it was associated with certain pregnancy rites.

For centuries, pomegranates have been regarded as a treasure among fruits. In ancient times, the Babylonians would chew the seeds before battle, believing it would make them invincible. And the ancient Egyptians were buried with pomegranates. In modern times, the pomegranate is a popular addition to Middle Eastern, Indian and Iranian cuisines. In the United States, this "jewel of winter" as it's sometimes referred to have become widely marketed as a powerful health juice in the last couple of years.

Pomegranates can be shrubs or small trees that can grow from 6 meters to 10 meters high. These trees can adapt to living in containers so it has been an excellent choice for greenhouses. The pomegranate is one of the first five cultivated fruits in the world. The pomegranate is very high in potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants.

For more information and images of this fruit  -- go to the link  -  Pomegranate fruit

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