The  Pomegranate  Is  a  native  of  Northern
Africa  and  Western  Asia,  and  is  usually  a
tree  varying  from  fifteen  to  twenty^flve
feet  bigb,  with  oblong  or  lance-sh^ed  en-
tire leaves,  destitute  of  dots,  and  without
the  marginal  vein  nsual  in  Myrtaeeoii  but
there  la  a  dwarf  variety  with  narrower
leaves,  soraeclroea  called  JP.  tiana^  natura-
lised In  the  West  Indies.  Its  flowers  are
usually  scarlet,  though  sometimes  wbiteor
yellowish,  and  have  a  leathery  top-shaped
calyx  divided  at  the  top  Into  fire  to  seven
valvate  lobes,  and  as  many  or,  in  certain
double-flowering  varieties,  a  larger  number
of  petals.  Pomegranates  are  greatly  valued
in  warm  eountries  on  account  of  ttaelr  de-
licious, cooling,  and  refreshing  pulpw  Nu-
merous varieties  are  grown,  some  being
sweet  and  vinous,  and  others  acid  or  of  a
bitter  astringent  taste ;  dnd  the  colour  of
their  pulp  is  also  much  redder  In  some  than
in  others.  They  are  generally  about  the  size
of  the  fist,  and  have  a  tough  leathery  rind
of  a  beautiful  deep  golden  colour  tinged
with  red,  and  are  crowned  with  the  re-
mains of  the  dUyx-lobe«L  The  rind,  espe-


cially that  of  the  bitter  kind,  contains  a
large  quantity  of  tannin,  and  is  used  for
tanning  the  celebrated  raoroceo-lenther,
and  also  as  an  astringent  medicine ;  the
flowers  likewise  yield  a  red  dye.     [A.  8.]

PUNICEUa    The  same  as  Phoenlceus.
PUNICIN.  A  peculiar  principle,  obtained
from  the  bark  of  the  root  of  Pvniea  Oratia-
tum,  which  has  the  appearance  of  an  oleo-
resin.  '

PUNK.   Touchwood  or  vegetable  tinder.
