Punica

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For the epic poem Punica, see Silius Italicus.

Punica
Punica granatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Rosidae Order: Myrtales Family: Lythraceae Subfamily: Punicoideae (Horan.) Graham, Thorne & Reveal Genus: Punica
Species
Punica granatum L. Punica protopunica Balf.

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

Although previously placed in its own family of 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.

[edit] References

• Graham, S. A., Thorne & Reveal (May 1998). "Validation of subfamily names in Lythraceae". Taxon 47 (2): 435-436. doi:10.2307/1223775. 
• 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: 995–1017.
• 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: 1126-1139. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.7.1126.